Before requesting your medical records, please consider signing up for our patient portal, MyPalomarHealth, where you can retrieve a variety of documents from your medical record. You can print and share these documents to meet your needs.
A vitally important part of any hospital stay are the medical records that document the course of treatment. Depending upon the length of a patient’s stay, this can sometimes add up to hundreds of pages of documents.
Palomar Health Hospital medical records for Palomar Medical Center Escondido and Palomar Medical Center Poway are maintained in the Medical Records Department. Requests are processed in the Centralized Release of Information office. Patients can request copies of their medical records by ordering online at their convenience or by filling out an Authorization Form. A fee is charged based on the number of pages requested. Forms and instructions for requesting medical records are available in the next section. For information about how Palomar Health protects the privacy of your medical information, section on Privacy Policy, HIPAA.
Your written Authorization is required before we can fill a request. The other option is to simply download, print, and complete the form below.
Once you have completed the form, it can be mailed or faxed to the Medical Records Department via the address or fax number listed on the Authorization Form.
Print the Authorization Form – English version or Authorization Form – Spanish version
Due to the large number of requests we process, it may take up to 15 days to fill your request. You may make arrangements to pick up your copies by calling the department.
Frequently Asked Questions (Spanish Version)
Do I have to go to the Palomar Medical Center Escondido, Medical Records Department location to request copies of my medical records? How do I get copies of my medical records?
Option 1: Order your medical records online and follow the instructions. Please note that if you want a copy of your records on CD, you can have it mailed to you.
Option 2: Click on the “Patient & Visitors” tab at the top of the screen and then click “Medical Records Request”. The Authorization form is available in both English and Spanish. The completed form can be sent to Palomar Health Medical Records-Release of Information via mail, fax or drop off. Keep in mind that all hospital requests are processed at Palomar Medical Center Escondido. For the convenience of Poway residents, the form is available at Palomar Medical Center Poway. The completed form can be mailed or placed in a drop box where it will be picked up Monday through Friday and forwarded to Palomar Medical Center Escondido; where it will be processed (mailed or may be picked up at Palomar Medical Center Escondido).
Where is the Medical Records Department?
The Medical Records Department/Release of Information Services for Palomar Health is located at Palomar Medical Center Escondido, 2185 Citracado Parkway, Escondido, CA 92029.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are directing patients to request copies of their records electronically.
Click the hyperlink above to access our on line records request instructions and form.
What are the hours of operation? What is the contact information?
Please call the number below if you need to speak to a Release of Information Specialist. Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday – 08:00 am to 5:00 pm Closed all major holidays Phone: (760) 480-7901 Fax: (760) 480-7966
What if I was a patient at Palomar Medical Center Escondido, or Palomar Medical Center Poway?
You may order your records online and download your records when ready. All requests for Palomar Medical Center Poway and Palomar Medical Center Escondido are processed at Palomar Medical Center Escondido.
How do I get copies of my x-ray films or images?
If you would like to request copies of your x-rays or radiology images, please call Medical Records at the location where you had your imaging done.
Palomar Medical Center Escondido: (760) 480-7901
Palomar Medical Center Poway: (858) 613-4652
Jean McLaughlin Women’s Center: (858) 613-6145
What else do I need to know about requesting medical records?
Due to the large number of requests we process, it may take up to 15 days to receive your records. Incomplete authorization forms will not be processed and will be returned. Also, Medical Records Department does not provide billing information. Please call (858) 225-3130 if you have questions about your bill.
What do I need to know about filling out the Authorization form?
- All portions of the form must be completed.
- Select a facility from which you would like to request the medical records.
- Provide the name of who you want the records released to. A complete address is required.
- Records can be sent to multiple people; however, a separate request is required.
- Information to be released section: select and initial the specific information to be released.
- There is a charge for the entire Medical Record, multiple visits or for electronic documents.
- See fees for record copies below.
- Select a reason for requesting the records. You can select more than one reason.
- Provide an expiration date for your authorization.
- If you marked the box, the release is good for three months from the date you sign the authorization.
- Provide date, signature of patient or legal representative, the patient’s date of birth, and phone number.
- If the legal representative is signing the authorization, supporting documentation must be provided, for example; durable power of attorney for healthcare.
- If the patient is deceased, a copy of the Will or Death Certificate must be provided in order to validate the authority of the person making the request. A DPOA-HC is no longer valid for an expired patient.
How do I send my records to my doctor?
- Order your records online and follow the instructions.
- Indicate the Authorization Form that you want Medical Records to send a copy for your doctor and provide the name and address.
Contact Information
What are the fees for copies of records?
There is no charge for copies of records sent directly to your doctor for continuing care. Indicate the physician’s name and address on the authorization form. In most cases, the specific medical information indicated on the authorization from the requested stay is provided free of charge. This may include Pertinent Information: ER reports, discharge summary, history and physical, operative report, pathology report, labs and radiology reports. The Entire record of an inpatient stay consists of all of the above plus daily physician progress notes and orders, nurse’s notes, and consents. Requests for the entire printed medical records or multiple visits are charged at $.25 per page.
Palomar Medical Center Escondido
Attn: Medical Records Department
2185 Citracado Parkway
Escondido, CA 92029
Phone: (760) 480-7901
Fax: (760) 480-7966