OpenNotes is an international movement that advocates for transparent communication in health care and studies the effects of shared notes in patients’ records, otherwise known as open notes.
OpenNotes started back in 2010 as a year-long pilot program with over 100 primary care physicians and more than 13,500 patients at three health centers. Providers invited patients to read their medical visit notes through a secure online patient portal. Findings of that demonstration indicated that patient access to provider notes improves communication, patient safety and engagement and strengthens the doctor-patient relationship. The movement grew from there.
Federal law that went into effect in April 2021 requires health care providers to give patients access to all of the health information in their electronic medical records without delay or fees. Starting on October 6, 2022, the definition of electronic health information in the 21st Century Cures Act will expand to include all electronic protected health information (ePHI) that a patient has a right to access under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This includes medical and billing records; payment and claims adjudication; and case or medical management record systems.
For more information, see the OpenNotes website.