OpenNotes announced that more than 30 million Americans now have access to notes written by their clinicians in fully transparent medical records. OpenNotes is a call to action committed to improving healthcare by offering patients the opportunity to read notes written by their doctors, nurses, physician assistants, therapists, and other clinicians. Previously hidden from patients, these notes can be an essential tool for increasing communication, patient safety and the quality of care.
Patients, clinicians and innovators gathered with OpenNotes leadership in Seattle to discuss ways to use information technologies for achieving health equity, as well as to celebrate this OpenNotes milestone. Hosted by the Cambia Health Foundation, a funder of OpenNotes, the meeting focused on the crucial need to increase transparency in the healthcare industry.
The evolution of technology has made sharing information easier with the advent of secure patient portals. Making clinical notes available in these portals takes little effort on the part of the medical provider while offering much to the patient.
