Doctors Face Patient Scrutiny
For the past few weeks, I've had Michael Jackson's "Somebody's Watching Me" stuck in my head. I blame Geico for making it the theme song for its ubiquitous ad campaign. (Seriously, that bug-eyed bundle of money is everywhere.)
But today, the ditty popped into my head for good reason.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston is launching a study that will let 25,000-35,000 patients read their doctor's notes online, the Globe reported. No elaborate request for information process. No copying or printing fees. Just log on and check ‘em out.
The "open notes" project will involve about 100 doctors from BIDMC and two other facilities. They agreed to put their most candid (and often harsh) observations on the line in hopes of better patient education and communication.
Doctors admit the move's a bit risky, the article noted. Patients may misinterpret notes or take offense to blunt comments. Physicians looking to avoid backlash or panic may water down their notes, which wouldn't do much for improving patient care.
On the other hand, unfettered access could be a stopgap for errors and a big step toward better patient-provider relations. One patient said open notes would mean another set of eyes scanning for mistakes. BIDMC knows the value of accuracy; the facility got knocked with a wave of PR after ePatientDave, social networking extraordinaire, found errors in his personal health record that were caused when the system populated the record with BIDMC's billing data instead of diagnoses. And if our Say What? column is any indication, doctors aren't always on the ball when it comes to documentation.
I have to admit-I don't envy the physicians signing up for this study. In fact, I give them kudos for their confidence, bravery or whatever it is giving them the gusto to (hopefully) tell it like it is and let patients know. HIM professionals no doubt understand the pressures of being under the microscope, especially with software today that tracks where you go, what you do and how long it takes. But to have the actual patient checking that you crossed your t's and dotted your i's could be a serious pressure-cooker.
Ah, Mr. Jackson, your concerns about privacy are all too fitting in health care. But this time, it's the provider, not the patient, being exposed.