When a specialized medical clinic closes, getting a copy of your personal health information becomes your top priority. Dr. Arthur P. Chou, a well-known board-certified neurosurgeon in Southern California, permanently closed his private medical dr arthur chou practice on February 1, 2025. For many years, patients visited his offices in Monterey Park, Downey, and Whittier for complex brain and spine care. Now that his physical clinics are no longer open, former patients must take specific steps to safely retrieve their official files, surgical logs, and imaging reports.

Neurosurgical health issues like spinal stenosis, herniated discs, chronic neck pain, and brain tumors require close, long-term monitoring. If you were a patient of Dr. Chou, your medical file contains highly specific documents that are vital to your future health. These items include:

• Detailed Surgical Notes: Exact records of past operations, spinal fusions, or tumor removals.
• Diagnostic Imaging: Reports from crucial MRI scans, CT scans, and X-rays of your brain or spine.
• Treatment History: Information regarding physical therapy outcomes, specialized nerve blocks, and prescription medication logs.

Your next doctor will absolutely need these files before they can safely prescribe medications, order physical therapy, or perform future surgeries. Without them, your new medical team would have to start from scratch, which could delay your care.

Federal laws ensure that you still have a legal right to access your health data, even after a medical practice shuts down. Dr. Chou’s office has set up a secure digital process to handle all incoming record requests.

To get your files, follow these three exact steps:

1. Download the Form: Go to the Official Dr. Chou Website using a computer or smartphone. Look for the medical record release authorization link and download the document.
2. Fill Out the Details: Print the form and fill it out completely using dark ink. You will need to write your full name, date of birth, contact details, and the specific address or email where you want your records transferred. Don’t forget to sign and date it.
3. Submit via Email: Scan or take a clear, well-lit photo of the completed and signed paper. Email the document directly to the secure address: info@drchou.la.

Because processing paper records can take several weeks, you should submit your request as soon as possible. While you wait for the files to arrive, you should also begin looking for a new brain or spine specialist.

You can find a great replacement doctor by calling the phone number printed on the back of your medical insurance card. You can also ask your regular family doctor to write an official referral to an active neurosurgeon in your local area.

If you need help finding a new doctor to manage your spine or brain health, please share your city or your insurance company. I can look up highly-rated local neurosurgeons to help you continue your medical care without a break.