Enabling patients to see their doctors’ medical notes is a simple yet radical idea that could change the way people engage with their health and healthcare. But will it float?
OpenNotes, a project funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Pioneer Portfolio, is a program that encourages doctors to make their electronic medical notes available to patients. The “Annals of Internal Medicine” has released key findings from a new study about OpenNotes, showing that patients are embracing the use of online access to their medical notes regardless of demographic or health characteristics. For the past year, patients in nine practices in Boston, rural Pennsylvania and Seattle were given access to their medical notes through secure electronic patient portals. Findings show patients are remarkably optimistic and enthusiastic about having online access to this once-secretive medical information. Participating primary care physicians (PCPs) appreciate the potential for sharing notes with patients, but many remain cautious and worry about the impact on their patients and their own workflow.
Key findings:
- Nearly all patients (92 to 97 percent) across the three sites thought open visit notes were a good idea.
- Most (69 to 81 percent) participating PCPs across the three sites thought open visit notes were a good idea, compared with only 16 to 33 percent of doctors who declined participation.
- More than one-half of participating doctors (50 to 58 percent) and most nonparticipating doctors (88 to 92 percent) expected that open visit notes would result in greater worry among patients. In striking contrast, far fewer patients concurred (12 to 16 percent).
The next step is to examine what difference the information access has made in the way patients have engaged with their health and how healthcare is delivered. The research also aims to measure how perceptions for both doctors and patients have changed regarding the benefits and risks of open notes and help identify what steps are needed to overcome doctors’ concerns.
Find out more about OpenNotes and read the Dec. 20, 2011, “Annals of Internal Medicine” study here.
