A new study is testing whether it is important for you to know what your doctor writes in your medical chart.  Some doctors suggest that it is important for patients to have ready access to doctors’ notes to fully understand their medical issues and care.  Other doctors suggest that patients may become unnecessarily frightened or offended if they have full access to doctors’ notes.

The “OpenNotes Project” is trying to determine what will really happen if patients are provided electronic access to their medical charts. Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania is one of the three health centers participating in the study.  For a period of one year, patients will get an email after every doctor’s visit that tells them their doctor’s notes are available online.  Both patients and doctors will be tracked.  Patients will be tracked to determine if they access the information and how they use it.  Doctors will be tracked to see if they censor their notes to make them more patient friendly.

Part of the advantage to providing patients with access to doctor notes is providing patients with the power to stop potential mistakes.  For example, if a doctor tells you he is ordering certain tests but fails to follow through or if your doctor has your medical history confused with another patient, you may be able to stop a medical malpractice mistake that could cause you injury.

If you are not participating in the study, you have the right to request your medical records.  However, doctors often stall and charge high copying fees in an effort to dissuade patients from following through with their request.

What do you think?  Would you want easy access to your doctor’s notes if they were easily available?

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