From: "Izan Gill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Don't know about NSW, Scas, but in Qld. we are required to keep films for 5 years and for patients under 21 another 7 years - till they turn 28.
I wouldn't be happy relying on patients to bring their films with them when they front up for the next examination - it is aready a huge effort to get private patients to bring theirs. I understand that as the films are part of the patient's medical record and do not belong to the patient, they remain in the hospital. It's up to the hospital to give you adequate room to file them as it is with their charts and other records. I don't file private films - I have neither the space nor the inclination. Overall, most of my patients are private GP referrals. For patients who are transferred/ retrieved/ sent to a specialist, their films go with them - the receiving hospitals soon send them back for the first two and in general the patient gets his/ her films back from the specialist. I make a note of where they go on the hospital printed envelope and stamp "please return to Stanthorpe Hospital" across the plain transport envelope.The films which aren't returned to the patient are the private films and see 2nd paragraph anyway! We get 2 copies of the report; the signed one goes in the chart and the other stays in the envelope. Another issue that I'm sure would be raised by the bureaucrats is confidentiality - bigger than Ben Hur. Cheers Izan >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 03/29/03 10:27am >>> From: "Scas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> JUST WHAT ARE THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RETENTION OF X-RAYFILMS IN N.S.W. PUBLIC HOSPITALS? MANY FILMS LEAVE HOSPITALS (SOME UNREPORTED) FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND MANY NEVER RETURN. IS THERE ANY REASON THAT WE CANNOT ADOPT THE MORE COST EFFECTIVE SYSTEM USED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF ISSUING THE FILMS INTO THE CARE OF THE PATIENT (PERHAPS VIA THE REFERER)? IS ANYONE OUT THERE DOING THIS ALREADY? SCAS +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ This message is being broadcast by AIRNEWS, the Australian Institute of Radiography list Server Send messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For assistance send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Commands should be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Opinions expressed on this list are not necessarily those of the moderator, his assistants or those of the A.I.R.
