The Los Angeles Times

“There is no question that a patient’s medical records belong to the patient. Patients can ask for copies of everything health professionals enter into their files. Patient records, however, are meant to help the doctor or other health professional organization obtain information and treat the patient safely and effectively.

“So what would happen if patients had much easier access to the doctors’ notes? The answer to that question should become clear later this year. Researchers led by a team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts have launched a pilot program called the OpenNotes Initiative. The program will allow about 25,000 patients in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington to read their doctors’ notes on a secure Internet portal. The patients and doctors will then fill out questionnaires about whether the project helped or hurt.”

Source: Los Angeles Times, July 19, 2010