Research
The OpenNotes project began as a yearlong experiment to investigate patients and doctors’ attitudes about sharing a visit note. Our most recent publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports the findings after a 12-month trial in which patients were invited to read their primary care doctor’s visit notes.
Our most recent findings highlight:
Patient enthusiasm
Patients with access to their doctors’ notes felt in more control of their care, reported better understanding of their health and conditions, improved recall of their care plan, and being more likely to take their medications as prescribed.
Minimal impact on doctors’ workflow
Few doctors reported longer visits or taking more time outside of visits to address patient concerns as a result of sharing notes. A substantial minority of doctors indicated they changed how they wrote about challenging topics, such as mental health, cancer, obesity, and substance abuse.
