Can nursing schools look at your health records?

[dragonhawk]

Just curious, can they call your doctor and ask about certain shots you've had or is that a HIPAA violation? My doctor filled out my physical exam papers, and for my one MMR shot date, she wrote the wrong year, so that worries me that somehow they're gonna find out and think I lied or something. Should I just let it go or mention something to the school?

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

No they can not just call and ask about your records, you would have to sign a release, you can specify on your release they can only receive copies of your immunizations or titters. They have no way to know the year is wrong and they will go off what the doctor wrote, however it's important to have accurate information so why not just inform the doctors office so they can correct it and get you a new paper?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I can't imagine a scenario where a school would even want to access any student medical records. Why would they want to go the extra work of contacting every single students medical office requesting them? That's why it is the students responsibility to obtain a copy of their own immunization records to provide to the school. As for your personal medical record having an incorrect immunization date, as long as you have some proof of the correct date it should be an easy matter to have medical records at your providers office correct the date.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

Here is the breakdown for HIPAA and immunizations: Student Immunizations | HHS.gov

I've been able to get immunizations from health care providers for students enrolled in my school, usually with parent's verbal permission. I also have access to the immunization database in my state as a school nurse.

But OP, deep breath. I doubt a wrong year written will be an issue unless it shows you were given the MMR vaccine significantly before you were 1 year old.