Requesting Patient Medical Records and/or Burial Records
To request medical records for persons hospitalized in the last 10 years, please contact the specific hospital in which treatment was provided:
- Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare (Athens and Cambridge Campus Records):
(800) 372-8862 or (740) 594-5000 - Heartland Behavioral Healthcare (Massillon Campus):
(330) 833-3135 - Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare (Cleveland and Northfield Campus Records):
(800) 557-5512 or (330) 467-7131 - Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital (Previously known as Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare Toledo Campus):
(877) 970-4325 or (419) 381-1881 - Summit Behavioral Healthcare (Cincinnati Campus):
(888) 636-4724 or (513) 948-3600 - Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare (Columbus and Dayton Campus Records):
(614) 752-0333
A Request for Information Form must be completed before a records request can be processed. Please note, records maintained by the Department may only be released pursuant to the provisions contained in Ohio Revised Code Section 5122.31. Generally, patients, guardians and executors of deceased patients’ estates are allowed access to records, however certain restrictions may apply.
If the hospital is in possession of the records requested, please allow up to 4 weeks to process the request. Cost shall be determined at the time of the request.
If the hospitalization is beyond 10 years after the last discharge date, please note:
According to the ODMH records retention policy, medical records are destroyed 10 years after the patient’s last discharge date. Occasionally, records are sent to the Ohio Historical Society to be archived. Please visit the Ohio Historical Society web site for information on archived records. You may also wish to contact your local county Bureau of Vital Statistics to request information pertaining to medical records.
To request burial records:
Burial records of former patients are no longer maintained by the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Please contact the Ohio Historical Society and/or the State of Ohio Library regarding this information.
The Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections serves as a repository for some records formerly held by the Athens Asylum on behalf of the Ohio Historical Society. Please contact:
Douglas E. McCabe
Curator of Manuscripts
Mahn Center
Alden Library
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: (740) 593-2715