Reading doctor’s notes helps patients health

Most of patients in Amercia feel that reading doctor’s notes could help them improve health condition, said a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine as quoted by media reports Wednesday. The Open Notes Project conducted a survey of 38,000 patients along with 173 physicians in three states. Patients at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Pennsylvania's Geisinger Health System and Seattle's Harborview Medical Center were allowed to access doctor’s notes for about a year. Result of the survery showed that more than 90 percent of the patients were willing to see doctor’s notes, as in their opinion, "the information could help them better control their health," and "be more efficient to manage schedules for taking medicines." In addition, 22 percent of them even considered sharing the information with doctors as well as other people as it will benefit their managing care. Doctors however did not completely see eye to eye with patients. On a positive side, they agreed that with their notes patients may have better communications with them and be more knowledgeable about their health condition. But on a negative side, they said patients may become more worried and then question much more because they know more from the notes. On the "open doctor's notes" issue, there is now an ongoing debate in the United States and answers will be available in a few months, according to lead author Jan Walker of the Beth center.