ST. LOUIS (KSDK) - Some patients are panicked, worried years of their valuable medical records will be destroyed.
A long-time imaging center is shutting down in Florissant and some say what's happening there illustrates a larger problem nationwide.
The doors are locked, lights are out. No access to The Imaging Center in Florissant and Judi Linville says she's got no access to her records.
"I don't even know if they're in this building or if they've been moved somewhere else," she said.
Linville, and thousands of others, got a letter stating the center was closing after more than 20 years.
Patients wishing to have their medical records could come during a three day period that ended Monday.
But she got the letter Tuesday. After the deadline, the letter states the records will be destroyed, even though state law requires they be preserved for at least seven years.
Linville has years of mammogram films she needs to document her medical history.
Signs posted at the center acknowledge the problem with the letter delivery and offer an email address with a promise of another opportunity to come get their records.
"Well, what if I have to be in Kansas City that day or what if they pick the day that I just left on a two-day trip or something," said Linville.
To Annette Bailey, who's come here more than ten years, the way it's been handled is, "frustrating and it shows a lack of caring."
Five on Your Side reached out to the Imaging Center.
A consultant for the center says the doctor who owns it retired and the center has been unable to find anyone to take custody of the 25,000 records.
The consultant says it's a problem nationwide and consultations with state and federal agencies offered no solution.
He says after the distribution efforts are finished, the only alternative is to destroy the documents.
The bottom line on connecting patients with their records, the consultant says the center will set up as many days needed to distribute them based on the volume of people who request them and they can be mailed as well.
To contact the imaging center to request records, e-mail imagingrecords@gmail.com.
The consultant says all the e-mails will be answered.
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