What may a provider provide to a patient instead of copies of their medical records?

The correct answer is a summary of the records within 10 days. In California, healthcare providers are permitted to provide patients with a summary of their medical records as an alternative to supplying the full copies. This option allows patients to access essential information about their health while potentially reducing administrative burdens related to copying and distributing complete records.

The law ensures that patients still receive pertinent information about their health status in a timely manner, specifically within a stipulated timeframe, which supports patient engagement and continuity of care. Providing such summaries can help facilitate better discussions between the patient and provider regarding health conditions and treatments.

Other alternatives, like offering a detailed report of their health status, may not necessarily be compliant with regulatory expectations as they could deviate from what is strictly defined as medical records. A verbal explanation of records lacks the clarity and documentation that a written summary provides, making it less reliable. Lastly, limiting patient access to only an online portal does not fulfill the legal obligation to provide information in a manageable format.