It is our policy at Preventive Medicine to have every lab test examined by a medical professional, either the doctor or the nurse practitioner. Each test result, each report from another doctor, consult, referral, etc., each and every piece of paper is examined by the doctor and/or the nurse practitioner before entering your chart. If there is any significant abnormality in any of the tests, the patient will be notified either by phone call or in writing by one of our staff. We do not have the facilities to contact each and every patient to let them know that their test results are perfectly normal. We only contact you if the test results are "significantly" abnormal. We are happy to provide you with your test results if you are interested, but you must call us. As a rule, we suggest you wait eight to ten days after your last visit to call if you are interested in finding out the exact numbers on your reports, etc. Most of our results are available within 24 hours, but a few tests like the PSA and the thyroid, take a week, so we tell people to wait eight or ten days. Tests done at outside laboratories, i.e., mammograms, barium enemas, etc., we also have no control over. That is why we recommend that you contact us eight to ten days after your last visit.

Once again, it is our policy to contact you for significant abnormalities. If we do not call you, that means that your test results are within expected limits. If you are curious about the results or want to confirm the results we obtained, etc., by all means, call us, but we will not contact you unless results are abnormal

Regarding confidentiality, we consider your records privileged confidential information and we will not release your records to anyone for any reason at any time without your verbal or, preferably, your written permission.

So, if your husband or wife calls up and says, I want my loved one's bloodwork, we will not tell them that without your prior authorization. If you sign an insurance form or other piece of paper that authorizes the information to be given out, we will comply with that.

Your records are private, personal and confidential and we intend to keep them that way.

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