How to Request Hospital Records After a Car Accident

Hospital records are often split across emergency, inpatient, and billing departments. Request all components, not only discharge paperwork.

Key Points

Hospitals often separate medical records and patient financial services. You may need separate requests for clinical and billing records.

When available, use the health information management (HIM) portal for faster processing.

Emergency physician assessment, triage notes, nursing notes, procedure reports, imaging reads, and discharge instructions are often central.

If admitted, request operative notes, consults, and inpatient progress notes.

Is a discharge summary enough for a claim?

Usually no. Full chart notes and itemized billing are typically needed for complete claim review.

Do hospital billing records come from the same office?

Not always. Hospital facility billing and physician group billing can be separate.

Can I request records electronically?

Many hospitals support secure portal delivery or encrypted email for records requests.