Health Information Management is organized into units that handle specific functions within the department:
- Release of Information
- Record Processing
- Coding
- Dictation and Transcription
- Physician Lounge
- Forms Management, Research, Quality Reporting, Medical Record Review
Release of Information
Health Information Management correspondence is open 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. To obtain a copy of a medical record, please submit a valid authorization form, signed and dated by the patient or legal guardian, or call 314.454.5934 and select option 1 for assistance with release of information.
Medical Records Authorization Forms
The following forms are in PDF format and require Adobe Reader software. If you do not have Adobe Reader, it can be downloaded for free at get.adobe.com/reader.
To Request Your or Your Child’s Records
Patients and legal guardians, please complete the Request for Access to Protected Health Information by Individual Patients form to request a copy of your medical records sent to you or another legal guardian or personal representative.
Note: Parents and legal guardians, please use this form for your children.
To Request An Individual Patient’s Records for a Third Party
Patients and Third Parties, please complete the Authorization for Release of Information form to request a copy of an individual’s medical records to be released to a third party individual or institution. Note: The individual patient whose records are being requested must sign this authorization.
To avoid a delay, please answer all questions on the authorization form. Certain restrictions and fees may apply.
Completed requests may be returned to:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Health Information Management
Mail stop 90-59-341
One Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63110
Record Processing
Health Information Management Record Processing is open 7 days a week to retrieve, assemble and analyze medical records of patients discharged from the hospital or seen in outpatient areas. Records are retrieved daily from all inpatient units and regularly from outpatient areas; assembled in a specific order for ease of information access for continuing patient care; and analyzed for completion requirements in accordance with Joint Commission and hospital bylaws.For questions or more information about record processing, please call 314.362.3936.
Coding
Coding is a procedure that assigns a numeric code to diagnostic and procedural data on a medical classification system. The coders use the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), which is accepted and used worldwide. The purpose of these codes is to retrieve data about specific diseases, analyze trends of disease, and provide information for billing and review of procedures.
Dictation and Transcription
The dictation and transcription unit is responsible for tracking and processing dictated reports and distributing transcribed reports.
Physician Lounge
This area is responsible for assisting physicians and allied health practitioners with their record completion responsibilities. It houses two workstations with dictation and other amenities that providers can use while completing medical records.
Forms Management, Research Chart Requests, Quality Reporting, Medical Record Review
This area collects data based on TJC Information Management Standards-Regulatory Agencies, identifies problems, and recommends actions to resolve the problems identified in patient care areas. Also, this area works with the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Forms Committee to ensure that all forms and documents included in the permanent medical record complies with the hospital's forms standards.
If you have questions about your medical records that have not been answered by this website, please call 314.454.5934 and select option 1.