Anyone can ask to see written records produced by Washington state government agencies, including the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). To find out more, choose from the options listed.
- Use the DOH portal: Submit a public records request by logging into or creating an account in the DOH Public Records Portal. Please provide as much information as you can about the records, so we can respond as quickly as possible. This is our preferred method of receiving a records request. Sending your public records requests directly to DOH staff does not expedite your request in any way. In fact, this may delay processing of the request; especially if the staff person is out of the office or unavailable.
- Request an in-person appointment: To request an appointment at one of our DOH office locations, state your need for an appointment in the portal or contact the public records officer by email. Please provide your public records request reference number and preferred location when requesting your appointment. Someone from our office will contact you to schedule your appointment. Office hours for in-person review of DOH records will be by appointment, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Have general questions? Contact our public records officer by email at PublicDisclosure@doh.wa.gov or phone at 360-236-4220.
Washington State Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Public Records
The rules and regulations related to public records in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) are listed below.
- Public Records Act - State law (RCW 42.56)
- Public Records Act – Model Rules (Chapter 44-14 WAC)
- Public Records (Chapter 246-02 WAC)
- Medical records - State law (RCW 70.02)
- Acquisition, security, retention, disclosure, and destruction of health information (WAC 246-08-390)
How to Receive Records and the Associated Costs
Unless you choose to receive paper copies of the requested records or to view the records in person, you can log into our DOH Public Records Portal to retrieve your electronic records.
- DOH Public Records Fee Schedule (PDF) – Costs associated with production and delivery of records. Per WAC 246-08-990(7), requestors are required to pay for copies in advance of receiving records.
- Declaration - Commercial Purposes (Word) – If your public records request includes a request to access one or more lists of individuals, you must use this form to declare that you will not use the list for a commercial purpose.
Fees
Costs of Providing Public Records (WAC 246-02-060) and Charges for Copying (RCW 42.56.120) authorize DOH to collect reasonable costs for providing copies (paper or electronic). You may choose to receive requested records as paper copies sent to you in the mail, as electronic copies sent via your DOH Public Records portal, or mailed on CD or USB drive. Electronic copies will be sent to you via your DOH Public Records customer portal unless requested otherwise. Per WAC 246-08-990(7), requestors are required to pay fees for copies in advance of receiving records.
Looking for Medical Records?
You may be looking for information that you can get from a DOH program or partner without a public records request. Below is a list of links in the DOH website that could be helpful.
- Patient-specific medical records information: RCW 70.02.080 patient's examination and copying requirements
- Vital records (birth/marriage/death certificates or data)
- Newborn screening: contact the Newborn Screening Program
- Immunization/vaccination records (COVID-19 and others): access your family's immunization information
Please note: In general, DOH does not house a person's individual medical records. These records must be requested from the medical facility or practitioner that provided services to the patient.
DOH may have medical records because we obtained them in one of two situations:
- Health care information you provided related to a health services quality assurance complaint
- Health care information we collected related to a foodborne illness or outbreak.
If you would like access to your own personal information related to one of the two situations listed, you need to show proof of identity in your public records request, so that we can release the information. Please log into your DOH records center account and upload the documents listed below.
- Notarized Proof of Identification Form (PDF) for yourself
- If the patient is a minor or has a legal representative, official/legal proof of your right to request this information (official birth certificate, power of attorney, etc.)