Methods and systems for retrieval and digitization of records

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for instructing a data processing center to perform the acts of:

• receiving from a requestor a request for a record in the custody of a provider;
• receiving from the requestor or other party an authorization for release of the requested record;
• associating the request received from the requestor with the authorization received from the requestor or other party from among other authorizations and requests received by the data processing center by comparing and finding a relationship between identifying information associated with the request and identifying information associated with the authorization;
• identifying a provider to from among other providers that has custody of the requested record;
• transmitting the request and authorization to the provider;
• receiving a copy of the requested record together with identifying information associated therewith;
• associating the copy of the requested record with the request from among other copies and requests received by the data processing center by comparing and finding a relationship between the identifying information associated with the copy of the requested record and the identifying information associated with the request;
• storing a digital copy of the requested record;
• and
• transmitting a copy of the requested record to a party authorized to receive the copy.

A data processing center, included in a system that also includes one or more requestors of records and a plurality of providers that generate or have custody of records, the data processing center having one or more modules for carrying out one or more of the acts comprising:

• receiving from a requestor a request for a record in the custody of a provider;
• receiving from the requestor or other party an authorization for release of the requested record;
• associating the request received from the requester with the authorization received from the reguestor or other party from among other authorizations and requests received by the data processing center by comparing and finding a relationship between identifying information associated with the request and identifying information associated with the authorization;
• identifying a provider from among other providers that has custody of the requested record;
• transmitting the request and authorization to the provider;
• receiving a copy of the requested record together with identifying information associated therewith;
• associating the copy of the requested record with the request from among other copies and requests received by the data processing center by comparing and finding a relationship between the identifying information associated with the copy of the requested record and the identifying information associated with the request;
• storing a digital copy of the requested record;
• and
• transmitting a copy of the requested record to a party authorized to receive the copy,
• wherein the data processing center comprises one or more computers and wherein at least a portion of the information received and transmitted by the data processing center is communicated through the Internet.