Skip to main content

Medical Records

You have a right to access your medical records and reports.
Consumer wearing headphones and taking notes is reviewing cost estimates for healthcare online and happy with the news.

Accessing + requesting your medical records

We understand that your medical records are very personal and should be kept confidential. We take this very seriously and follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) strictly to ensure that your records are always safe and secure.

If you ever need to access your medical records, please don't hesitate to ask us. You have the right to access them at any time, and we're here to help. We can provide you with a copy or transfer them to another facility of your choice.

Before we release any documents, we need you to fill out and sign the Authorization for the Release of Health Information form. This is just to make sure that your information is going to the right person. Sometimes, we may also need your physician's approval.

Your privacy is very important to us, and we're here to help you get the records you want. 

Download from myTuftsMed (patient portal)

On myTuftsMed patient portal, you can view, download or share your record from 1 day, a date range or even all your visits.

  • After you log in, go to Sharing then Sharing Hub and select Download your record.
  • Select a visit on the Single Visit tab or use the Date Range tab or All Visits tab to select multiple visits. Then select:
    • View to see the visit summary.
    • Download to save a copy of the visit summary for your records.
    • Send to share a copy of your visit summary with a doctor (this is helpful if you see a doctor outside of Tufts Medicine and want to keep them informed of your care).

Once you've requested a copy of your medical record from your healthcare organization, you can download and view it. To do this, you should:

  • Go to My Record then Document Center and select Requested Records.
  • You'll see a list of all the records you have requested. Review the list and find the one you want to view and select Download
    • To save the file to your computer or phone, select Save and open it from your files.
    • To open the file to your computer or phone, select Open (if you do this, it will not be saved to your computer or phone).
    • If the record is password protected, a warning will be displayed and you'll need to select Continue Download. If the record is password protected, select Show Password on the Requested Records page to find the password you need to access the document and enter it to view the document.
  • Share your medical information, go to Sharing and then Share Everywhere.

Request your records in-person

First, fill out our Authorization for Release of Health Information form. Please note the patient (or their legal representative) must complete, sign and date the form. A valid photo ID is required.

Be sure to let us know which parts of your medical record you'd like. We usually include the discharge summary, operative report and history. You must specifically request details such as:

  • AIDS and HIV testing
  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Genetic testing
  • Psychiatric care

 

Next, where did you get your care?

Care at Home services and locations

We'd be happy to help, please call us at 800.933.5593 for more information. 

Lowell General Hospital and offices

Although your medical record data and X-ray film belong to the hospital, the information contained in the record belongs to you. You may inspect the record or have copies made for a reasonable fee after signing an authorization. If you are a hospitalized patient, please make your request through a staff member. If you have any issues acquiring your medical record copy of, please call the Lowell General Hospital Health Information Management Department at 978.937.6000, ext. 76327.

To request copies of your images, download and fill out the X-ray request for images form, and email to xray.film@tuftsmedicine.org

At Lowell General Hospital, we respect your privacy. If you would like us to forward a copy of your medical record to a healthcare provider, we need your written authorization along with a legible copy of your valid photo ID. If you pick up your medical records in person, you will be required to show a valid photo ID.

When completing the authorization, please provide the date of service and the information you need, for example, "discharge summary from last admission."

There are three options to obtain copies of your medical records:

  1. Stop by the Health Information Management Department and fill out an authorization to release your records and present a valid photo ID.
  2. Download and complete the Authorization to Release Protected Health Information (Medical Records) Form, and then mail it to us:
    HIM Coordinator
    Health Information Management Department
    Lowell General Hospital
    295 Varnum Avenue
    Lowell, MA
  3. Download and complete the Authorization to Release Protected Health Information (Medical Records) Form, and then fax it to 978.937.6869.
MelroseWakefield Hospital and offices

Medical Records office is located on the first floor at MelroseWakefield Hospital in the Registration area. You can walk-in to request your records or call 781.979.3213 for more information.

To submit in person:
MelroseWakefield Hospital
Medical Records Office
585 Lebanon Street, 1st floor
Melrose, MA

Tufts Medical Center and offices

To request your medical records, complete the Authorization for Release of Health Information Form and attach a front and back copy of your valid ID. You must sign and date the form yourself or have your legal representative do so.

Identify which parts of your medical records you need by specifying them on the form. The discharge summary, operative report, and history and physical usually contain the information you're looking for. If you need information about psychiatric care, AIDS/HIV, alcohol and drug misuse, or genetic testing, you must make a specific request by signing a request form.

We don't charge for sending records to another healthcare facility to ensure continuity of care. If you need the records for other purposes, payment is required before they can be released.

To submit in person:
Health Information Management Department
Ziskind Building, 1st Floor
800 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111
Hours: Monday through Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Weekends and Holidays.
For weekend emergencies from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm, call 617-647-8869

To submit via mail:
Tufts Medical Center
Health Information Management Department, Box 999
800 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111

To submit via fax:
Fax number: 617-636-4822
Attention: Health Information Management Department
 

Additional information
Please allow 7-10 business days for your request to be processed. If you indicated the option to pick up, you will be contacted by the Release of Information Office when your records are ready. A valid photo ID is required.

If an individual other than the patient is picking up the health information, that individual must have an original signed authorization letter from the patient along with a valid photo ID.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call the Health Information Management office at 617.636.6310.

Is there a fee?

You will not be charged if we send your medical records directly to another healthcare facility or doctor. However, if you want to pick up copies of your records or have them mailed to you, there will be a fee. This fee is set by the state of Massachusetts and can only be paid in cash or by check. Consideration will be given to waive fees for patients in cases of financial hardship.

The Federal Privacy Law (HIPAA) enacted on 4/14/03 requires certain elements to be contained on all authorizations to disclose protected health information (your medical records).

bullhorn

How to download myTuftsMed

Follow these directions to get the myTuftsMed app on your phone:

  • To install the myTuftsMed app, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for myTuftsMed
  • On your mobile device, open the Apple App Store (if you have an iOS device) or the Google Play Store (if you have an Android device). Look for one of the following icons to find the app store on your device:
  • Search for myTuftsMed
  • Tap Install
  • After install, tap Open or open from the myTuftsMed icon on your device 

Jump back to top