Clinic patients can get status on files

Individuals whose patient records were seized in the investigation of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada now have a phone number to call to check the status of their documents, Las Vegas police said Thursday.

Patients who have submitted written request forms can call 828-0170 for an update if they have not received their records within one week. The number rings to a message recording system, and patients can leave their name, phone number, birth date and last four digits of their Social Security number.

A representative of Chart-One, the company that organized more than 120,000 patient files, will call back within 24 hours, police said.

Records requests must be submitted on the form, which is available at any Metropolitan Police Department substation or at www.lvmpd.com. The completed form, which must include a copy of the patient's valid picture identification, should be mailed to ChartOne, P.O. Box 95546, Las Vegas, Nev. 89119-5546.

Patients should include a mailing address.

Las Vegas police seized the records as part of their investigation of the clinic and its affiliated offices, including the various locations of the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada. Health officials believe eight people were infected with hepatitis C because of unsafe injection practices during procedures at the clinics.

ChartOne has patient records from January 2006 to March. Patients looking for earlier records can send requests to Gastro Center, P.O. Box 35140, Las Vegas, Nev. 89133.