Returning the Favor...

Over the last month or so Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), has highlighted the work of the Schwartz Center several times in his blog, Running a Hospital. Today I’d like to highlight the innovative approach that BIDMC physicians are studying to enhance patient communication and improve clinical outcomes.

Forty two BIDMC physicians, representing one of three health care groups, are participating in the Open Notes project. Open Notes, which began in June 2010, is an evaluation project in which 100 primary care physicians are sharing their notes with 25,000 patients through an electronic health portal.

Proponents of the Open Notes concept argue that it will lead to improved patient understanding of health. Skeptics are concerned that Open Notes will lead to greater patient confusion because of complex medical terminology. While the study results won’t be published any time soon, it seems likely there will be immediate communication benefits: BIDMC lead investigator, Dr. Tom Delbanco noted that he has already begun using clearer language and less jargon. As I discussed last week, using simpler language to communicate with patients should be considered a necessity, not a chore, given the prevalence of low health literacy.

A complete description of the Open Notes project can be found in this month’s issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. While the project itself is limited to 100 primary care physicians, you can also participate in the project by sharing your opinion (as either a provider or patient) on the benefits of Open Notes by completing a brief survey.

Based on your experience, will doctors’ visit notes improve patient communication or hinder it?