Ready or Not, We Live in an Age of Health Information Transparency
Authors: David Blumenthal, Melinda K. Abrams
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Editorials2 July 2019Ready or Not, We Live in an Age of Health Information TransparencyDavid Blumenthal, MD and Melinda K. Abrams, MSDavid Blumenthal, MDThe Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York (D.B., M.K.A.) and Melinda K. Abrams, MSThe Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York (D.B., M.K.A.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M19-1366 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail A new study from the OpenNotes project (1) suggests that giving patients access to their physicians' visit notes may improve their understanding of and comfort with their medications, as well as adherence to medication regimens. As the authors point out, ensuring adherence, especially for patients with chronic illness, can significantly enhance outcomes of care. Based on a 2017 survey of patients using OpenNotes at 3 medical centers, the research confirms and expands on previous evidence (2) indicating that providing patients with visit notes increases health understanding, improves relationships with providers, and enhances medication adherence (3).Of course, the study has ...References1. DesRoches CM, Bell SK, Dong Z, et al. Patients managing medications and reading their visit notes: a survey of OpenNotes participants. Ann Intern Med. 2019;171:69-71. doi:10.7326/M18-3197 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Delbanco T, Walker J, Bell SK, et al. Inviting patients to read their doctors' notes: a quasi-experimental study and a look ahead. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157:461-70. [PMID: 23027317]. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-157-7-201210020-00002 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Esch T, Mejilla R, Anselmo M, et al. Engaging patients through open notes: an evaluation using mixed methods. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e010034. [PMID: 26826154] doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010034 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. 21st Century Cures Act, Pub. L. No. 114-255, 130 Stat. 1033 (2016). Google Scholar5. Blumenthal D. A big step toward giving patients control over their health care data. Harvard Business Review. 15 March 2019. Accessed at https://hbr.org/2019/03/a-big-step-toward-giving-patients-control-over-their-health-care-data on 29 April 2019. Google Scholar6. Apple Support. Institutions that support health records on iPhone (beta). 25 April 2019. Accessed at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208647 on 29 April 2019. Google Scholar7. The Commonwealth Fund. OurNotes: a new strategy to improve care for complex patients. 30 April 2018. Accessed at www.commonwealthfund.org/grants/ournotes-new-strategy-improve-care-complex-patients on 29 April 2019. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: The Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York (D.B., M.K.A.)Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M19-1366.Corresponding Author: David Blumenthal, MD, The Commonwealth Fund, 1 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021; e-mail, [email protected]org.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Blumenthal and Ms. Abrams: The Commonwealth Fund, 1 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021.This article was published at Annals.org on 28 May 2019. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPatients Managing Medications and Reading Their Visit Notes: A Survey of OpenNotes Participants Catherine M. DesRoches , Sigall K. Bell , Zhiyong Dong , Joann Elmore , Leonor Fernandez , Patricia Fitzgerald , Joshua M. Liao , Thomas H. Payne , Tom Delbanco , and Jan Walker Metrics Cited byA Policy Framework to Support Shared Decision-Making through the Use of Person-Generated Health DataPerception versus reality: Does provider documentation behavior change when clinic notes are shared electronically with patients?Time for Back Pain Patients to Routinely Have Access to Their Doctors' Notes? 2 July 2019Volume 171, Issue 1Page: 64-65KeywordsElectronic medical recordsHealth careHealth care providersHealth information technologyHealth surveysPatientsResearch designTelemedicineUndergraduatesVision ePublished: 28 May 2019 Issue Published: 2 July 2019 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2019 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...