Patent ID: 8073711

Claim:
A method of obtaining a patient record containing information concerning an identified patient from a record custodian company through a record processing center computer in communication with the record custodian company, using a record ordering computer server, comprising: requesting an order, by a requestor, for the patient record concerning the identified patient from the record ordering computer server, including identifying the record processing center holding the patient record and a shipping location to which the patient record is to be delivered, by inputting patient information in a graphical user interface window presented by the record ordering computer server through a web site served by the record ordering computer server; providing to the requestor, by the record ordering computer server, a single cover letter having a machine readable, bar code identifier and human readable information, identifying the order requested; providing to the requestor, by the identified patient, a patient authorization letter authorizing release of the patient record concerning the identified patient; submitting from the requestor to the record processing center a submission including the cover letter along with the patient authorization letter, for completing the order; reading, using a computer of the record processing center, the machine readable, bar code identifier; in response to the machine readable, bar code identifier and the patient authorization letter, the record processing center computer automatically requesting the record custodian company in possession of the patient record concerning the identified patient to ship the patient record to the shipping location; and obtaining, by the requestor, the patient record concerning the identified patient from the shipping location.