Boston’s Beth Israel-Deaconess Hospital is engaging in a year-long project called OpenNotes, which will look at what happens when patients are given real-time unrestricted access to their medical chart. HIPAA gives patients the legal right to access their medical records, but actually getting them is often a slow, laborious process. This project will give patients access to their electronic record immediately following an office visit.

Is this a good idea?

Having easy access to their physicians’ notes could help patients remember what was discussed during the appointment. But many physicians are wary. Some physicians anticipate that patients will be worried and confused by medical jargon they don’t comprehend, and that doctors will have to spend time translating their notes into patient-friendly laymen’s terms. Some attorneys are concerned that having their doctor’s notes could give dissatisfied patients fuel for malpractice claims.

However, making access to the medical notes easier can offer opportunities for patients to better collaborate with their doctors. For instance, patients who are actively involved can question the necessity of a specific test. And medical errors may be reduced when the doctor’s notes are reviewed by an expert on the patient – the patient himself.

Ready access to the medical chart will only make it easier for patients to take control of their own health.

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