Patient and Visitor Guide: Obtaining Medical Records 

Confidentiality of Information:
All patient health care information at Baptist Health South Florida is confidential and protected by State and Federal laws and HIPAA regulations.  Medical records can only be released with proper authorization from the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative (unless otherwise authorized by law).

•  Requesting Medical Records:
   All requests for the release of medical records
   must be submitted in writing and must be dated
   and signed by the patient or the patient's legally
   authorized representative. In the case of a minor,
   the parent or guardian must sign the authorization.
       
   Baptist Health Authorization for Release of Health
   Information form can be downloaded by clicking on
   the link:
  
   Medical Records Release Forms
  
  * Helpful instructions for completing the authorization form
  
  Completed requests forms can be faxed to:
  Miami-Dade 786-594-6404, 786-594-6405 or 786-594-6407
  Broward 954-837-1128
  
  Mailed: 
  Att: Health Information Management (follow links for facility addresses)
• Baptist Hospital of Miami, includes Baptist Children's Hospital
• Doctor Hospital
• Homestead Hospital
• Marines Hospital
• South Miami Hospital
• West Kendall Baptist Hospital
• Baptist Outpatient Services/Urgent Care Centers records can be mailed to any Baptist Health hospital location.

Or e-mail: DG-ReleaseofInformationManagement@baptisthealth.net

For additional information please contact the Health Information Department : 
Miami-Dade: 786-594-6400
Broward: 954-837-1127

Fee for Copying Patient Records:
Healthcare facilities and ambulatory surgery centers charge for medical record copy is: $1.00 search fee for every year requested: $1.00 per page for paper records; $2.00 per page for non-paper records, plus sales tax and actual postage (in accordance with F.S. 395.3025).

Healthcare practitioners and physicians’ offices charge for medical record copy is: $1.00 per page for the first 25 pages and .25 cents for any page after that. This fee is waived if information is disclosed for continuing care (in accordance with F.S. 456.057).

For your convenience, we prefer to mail your records. However, you can arrange to pick them up (must indicate location on authorization form) at one of the Baptist Health South Florida hospitals.  Please allow 3 business days to process your request.  You will be contacted when medical records are available for pick up.

For additional information please contact the Health Information Department : 
Miami-Dade: 786-594-6400
Broward: 954-837-1127

Hours of Operation:
Open to the general public
Monday through Friday, excluding hospital holidays
8:30am - 5:00pm
All services are provided on Monday - Friday

Birth Certificates:
The HIM Department is responsible for the creation of a birth certificate for all live-born infants delivered at or in route to a Baptist Health South Florida facility. All Baptist Health birthing facilities are currently using the Electronic Birth Registration System(EBRS) from the State of Florida, Office of Vital Statistics. 

Using EBRS, completed birth certificates are filled immediately with the State allowing qualified individuals to  receive a certified copy of the birth certificate on the day the birth certificate is completed. Copies of birth certificates must be requested through the Office of Vital Statistics, who is solely responsible for distributing the birth certificate.

To obtain information on requesting copies or making amendments to birth certificates, please contact the Office of Vital Statistics at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/birth_death.htm   

What you need to know at time of delivery:
• Have a name for your baby before giving birth. A Birth Certificate Representative will contact the mother on the day following the birth of the infant to complete the birth certificate.
• Review the information carefully before signing. The Birth Certificate is a legal document and once filed with the Office of Vital Statistics, changes may only be made through an amendment. The Office of Vital Statistics has a $20.00 fee to process amendments.
• Unmarried parents/Claiming paternity. In order to have the father’s information on the birth certificate, the father must be present to sign and have notarized the birth certificate. BHSF provides notary services for birth certificates.