How Reading Physician Notes can Benefit Patients

How Reading Physician Notes can Benefit Patients Studies suggest that when patients read their doctor’s note it can improve their health and put them on the same page as their provider.

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medical history, diagnosis, treatment, and continuity of care. U.S. based medical transcription companies convert physician dictation to error-free text, helping providers write good patient notes. Studies suggest that patients can benefit significantly by reading their physician’s notes.

Kaiser Health News reported on the case of a patient who read the clinical note from her doctor’s visit, which described her as “clinically morbidly obese.” Though shocked by these words, she was inspired to start losing weight and this saved her life. Often patients return home only with a summary of their office visit, which often includes only a list of medications or reminders to schedule a follow-up. But, the clinical note has many more details — everything that the physician types into the computer during and after the medical appointment. Many physicians even write down exactly what patients say. Notes can also include billing codes and the doctor’s thoughts about the patient’s condition and what might happen.

With electronic medical records (EMR) and secure patient portals, doctors can readily invite patients to read and share their visit notes. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Act also allows patients to review and get copies of their medical records.

The key benefits of allowing patients to view their medical record are – 

Can considerably improve accuracy, understanding, and health outcomes

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Provides patients with knowledge and assurance

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Encourages them to follow treatment recommendations

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Offers patients insights they might never hear from their physician, putting patient and provider on the same page

What Studies Say According to the lead author of the study discussed in health24, sharing doctors' clinical notes with patients is an effective, relatively low-cost, low-touch intervention. The study survey found that physicians can improve medication adherence by sharing their notes with patients.

The online survey covered 20,000 adults treated at three US health systems, who had read their clinical notes for several years. Up to 14% of these patients said they were more likely to take their medications as prescribed and 33% of patients considered clinical notes very helpful. Other www.medicaltranscriptionservicecompany.com

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findings – 64% said reading notes helped them understand why a medication was prescribed, while 62% felt more in control of their medications. Up to 57% said the notes answered their questions about medications and 61% said reading the notes made them feel more comfortable with their prescriptions.

An earlier study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine - a survey done among patients who’d looked at their doctor’s notes 

The majority of patients reported they felt more in control of their care and said they were more compliant taking medication

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Only 1% to 8%, small share said the notes caused confusion, worry or offense

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59% to 62% of patients believed that they should be able to add comments to a doctor's note

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99% of patients wanted open notes to continue and no doctor elected to stop

Many doctors now encourage patients to review their notes. Hospitals are also implementing systems that allow doctors to share clinical notes. OpenNotes, a research project in Boston encourages doctors to share their notes with patients. This project works with the mission to authorize patients, families, and caregivers to readily access physician notes, which can help patients, feel more in control of their healthcare decisions and improve care quality and safety.

OpenNotes also provides suggestions to help patients get their medical notes and understand the notes when they read them. The government is focusing on improving online access to medical records through its MyHealthEData Initiative announced last year.

Physicians can ease their documentation tasks and free up more time for patients with EHR integrated medical transcription services.

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918-221-7809