What to Do If You Find an Error in Your Health Record
If you spot a mistake in your health record before a specialist visit — a wrong medication, an old diagnosis, a missing allergy — you have the right to get a copy of the record, review it, and ask the provider who created the entry to correct it. You cannot edit the record yourself, but you can flag the error to the specialist right away while the correction is pending.
Three Different Things People Mix Up
Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, requesting a copy, checking it, and asking for a correction are three separate actions. Knowing which one you’re doing changes what happens next.
- Requesting a copy. You ask the provider or health system for a copy of your record so you can see what’s actually in it.
- Checking it. You read through what you received and compare it against what you know to be true — medicines, past diagnoses, allergies, visit dates.
- Asking for a correction. You contact the provider who created that entry and ask them to fix it. This is a request, not something you do yourself inside the chart.
That last point matters. A provider isn’t required to change the record just because you disagree — they review the request and decide. What you can always do is ask, and if they decide not to change it, add your own written explanation to the file.
A Simple Process Map
Here’s the general order this tends to follow, based on the patient-access process described by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC):
- Get it. Request a copy of the specific record — often through a patient portal, or by asking the office’s records department directly.
- Check it. Read the entry closely. Note the exact wording, the date it was added, and which provider or office created it.
- Raise it. Contact that provider’s office, describe what looks wrong, and say what you believe the correct information should be.
- Track the outcome. The office will either update the record or explain why they’re not making the change. Either way, ask for that response in writing.
If a specialist visit is coming up soon, then steps 1 and 2 are the ones to prioritize — you may not get a correction finalized before the appointment, but you can still tell the specialist about the discrepancy directly.
Do I Have to Wait for the Correction Before My Specialist Visit?
No. If time is short, bring up the discrepancy verbally at the visit — for example, “My chart lists a medication I stopped two years ago; I’ve also asked my primary care office to correct that.” Specialists regularly work with imperfect records, and flagging it yourself closes the gap faster than waiting on paperwork.
Who Do I Contact if the Error Came from a Different Office?
Correction requests generally go to whichever provider or organization created the entry, since they’re the ones who can verify and change it. If you’re not sure who that is, the record itself usually shows which office or clinician added the note and the date.
What happens if the provider disagrees that it’s an error?
They can decide the record is accurate as written. When that happens, you have the right to submit a short written statement explaining your side, and that statement becomes part of your file going forward — so anyone who reads the record later sees both the original entry and your response.
Is there a fee to get a copy of my records to check them?
According to HHS Office for Civil Rights guidance on the HIPAA right of access, providers may charge only limited, reasonable costs tied to preparing the copy — and many patient portals provide electronic access at no cost. If a fee estimate seems high, you can ask the office how the charge was calculated.
Can I just tell the specialist about the error instead of going through the correction process?
Yes, and it’s often the more practical step if time is tight. Telling the specialist directly doesn’t fix the underlying record, but it prevents that one visit from being shaped by outdated or wrong information while the formal correction is still pending with the original provider.
Does asking for a correction commitment the record will be changed?
No. The provider reviews the request and decides whether the information is inaccurate or incomplete. If they agree, they update it. If they don’t, you still have the right to add a written statement of disagreement to the file.
What information should I have ready before I contact the office?
Have the exact record copy in hand, the specific line you believe is wrong, what you think the correct information should be, and the name of the provider or office that created the entry. This makes the request faster to process.
Printable Checklist: Before You Contact the Office
- ☐ I have a copy of the specific record, not just a portal summary.
- ☐ I’ve identified exactly which line or entry is wrong.
- ☐ I know which provider or office created that entry.
- ☐ I’ve written down what the correct information should be.
- ☐ I have a way to reach that office (portal message, phone, or records department contact).
- ☐ I’ve noted my upcoming specialist visit date, in case the correction won’t be finished in time.
- ☐ I plan to ask for their response in writing, whatever they decide.
A Note on What This Guide Covers
This is educational information about the process for reviewing and requesting corrections to your health records. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace guidance from your health care provider or legal advice about your specific situation. If you’re dealing with a medical emergency, contact local emergency services right away.
For more on how Connected Care Guide approaches care navigation topics, see our How We Research page. As an independent educational publication on a domain that formerly hosted a medical group, we explain that separation further in our independence and domain-history notice.
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, “Patient Access Information for Individuals”; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, guidance on the HIPAA right of access.
Last updated: September 8, 2026.
By Connected Care Guide Editorial Team
Leave a Reply