Illinois law stipulates that all medical professionals must obtain a patients' informed consent before a procedure which includes disclosing information about the nature of the procedure, the expected and potentially unexpected results, risks, complications, and alternatives.
The Rules for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) require that records be maintained for a minimum of 6 years from the date of their creation and that records of any disclosure be maintained for 6 years from the disclosure date.
FOIA is the state Freedom of Information Act. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), records in the possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request.
The law requires “data collectors” that own or licenses personal information for any Illinois resident to notify the Illinois resident if there has been any “breach” in the “data collectors” computer systems.
FOIA contains an exemption for records that, if disclosed, would result in a “clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.” An “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” means the “disclosure of information that is highly personal or objectionable to a reasonable person and in which the subject's right to privacy ...
The primary purpose of a release of information form is to protect the patient's privacy and ensure that their medical information is only shared with their consent. It empowers patients to control who has access to their personal health data and under what circumstances.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is designed to ensure that Illinois residents can obtain information about their government. In 2009, Attorney General Lisa Madigan worked with legislators and a diverse group of individuals and organizations to strengthen FOIA and hold government more accountable.
All Other Record Requests Download an authorization form to allow UChicago Medical Center to release your health information. See a list of the costs for this service. Fill out the whole form including the kind of records and dates of your visits. Sign the form and send it to the address below (the one of your visit):