How the “OpenNotes” Initiative Is Changing the Way Patients and Doctors Work Together
<p>More than 6 million Americans have unrestricted online access to their medical records, thanks to “OpenNotes,” an initiative launched in 2010. Early research suggests that letting patients read their doctors’ clinical notes holds promise for engaging patients in their care, strengthening patient–provider relationships, and even improving adherence to care regimens. </p><p>For a new Q&A, Tom Delbanco, M.D., a Harvard Medical School professor who leads the OpenNotes initiative with his colleague, Jan Walker, R.N., talked with us about <a href="/publications/journal-article/2016/mar/how-opennotes-initiative-changing-way-patients-and-doctors">how it all got started, dealing with doctors’ apprehensions, and what’s next</a>.</p>
<p>And on Medium, Martha Hostetter gives an <a href="https://medium.com/@CommonwealthFund/putting-doctors-and-patients-on-th…; target="_blank">overview of the movement and shares the experiences of a doctor</a> who participated in an OpenNotes pilot at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. </p>