Sigall K. Bell|Roanne Mejilla|Melissa Anselmo|Jonathan Darer|Joann G. Elmore|Suzanne G. Leveille|Long Ngo|James D. Ralston|Thomas L. Delbanco|Jan Walker
When doctors share visit notes with patients: a study of patient and doctor perceptions of documentation errors, safety opportunities and the patient–doctor relationship
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Harvard University|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Harvard University|University of Washington|University of Massachusetts Boston|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Harvard University|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Harvard University|Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute|Group Health Cooperative|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Harvard University|Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center|Harvard University
patient advocates safety experts encourage adoption transparent health records sceptics worry shared notes may offend patients erode trust promote defensive medicine electronic health records disseminate disparate views fuel policy debates risks benefits sharing visit notes patients portalspresurveys postsurveys 99 volunteer doctors three us sites participated opennotes postsurveys 4592 patients read least one note submitted surveypatients read notes better informed curious third read check accuracy total 7 331 patients reported contacting doctors office note 29 perceived error 85 satisfied resolution nearly patients reported feeling better 37 62 doctor patients older 63 male nonwhite fairpoor selfreported health less formal education likely report feeling better doctor among doctors 26 anticipated documentation errors 44 thought patients would disagree notes year 53 believed patient satisfaction increased 51 thought patients trusted none reported ordering tests referralsdespite concerns errors offending language defensive practice transparent notes overall harm patientdoctor relationship rather doctors patients perceived relational benefits traditionally vulnerable populationsnonwhite poorer selfreported health fewer years formal educationmay particularly likely feel better doctor reading notes informing debate opennotes findings suggest transparent records may improve patient satisfaction trust safety