Will Open Charts Affect Doctor's Notes?

by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

Last week I first told you about the open notes study -- research project where 25,000 patients will have access to their medical records. It is being conducted at three health care settings including Geisinger in Pennsylvania.

For a year, participants will get an e-mail after each office visit saying their doctor's note is available through a secure online portal. Researchers will track if patients read it and find errors, and how they use it. Doctors' habits are being tracked, too --if they censor themselves or write more patient-friendly notes.

This is the part I find very interesting and want to watch. Will doctors be less detailed in their notes? For instance, will they be less likely to say a patient is obese for fear of insulting them or will they send dramatic messages in the chart like 'if he doesn't stop smoking he will probably have a heart attack'.

In case you are wondering, by federal law, you can get a copy of everything in your medical chart, visit notes included, by filing a formal request.