Wendy Harpham on Healthy Survivorship

OpenNotes - End Notes

Prompted by the launch of the OpenNotes project, I've been exploring the idea of patients reading their medical chart. Here are my conclusions:

Perspective on Open Notes

In a recent post I offered some general suggestions for using open notes in healing ways. Today I'll introduce some practical tips for overcoming some of the challenges Healthy Survivors may face.

Healing Open Notes

What can clinicians do to ensure that chart notes are healing -- or at least not harmful -- to patients who choose to review them?

Open Notes and Us

I see now that my question -- Are Open Notes good or bad for Healthy Survivors? -- is the wrong question. Patients already have the legal right to read their charts. Open Notes are here to stay. The questions I should be asking are these: 

Open Notes and Compassionate Care

For me, the crux of the problem is this: Do open notes conflict with the ideal of compassionate care? 

Open Notes and Transparency

Is the transparency inherent in open charts conducive to Healthy Survivorship?

Open Notes: "Our" Chart

My recent posts set the stage for asking: Does the opportunity for patients to read their medical charts help or hurt patients' ability to become Healthy Survivors?

The Purpose of the Medical Chart

When I was in practice, I used to tease my colleagues, "I want my patients' charts to be so well-organized and thorough that if were struck down by lightning, you could easily take over their care, knowing exactly what I was thinking and planning."

The Potential Benefits of Open Notes

For years, consumer advocates and some leaders in healthcare policy wanted to change how clinicians and the public viewed the medical chart. "[T]he Institute of Medicine urged society to view the note not as an artifact, but as a living interactive document shared between patients and providers." (from "Open Notes: Doctors and Patients Signing on").

Why did they work so hard for this change? 

Perceived Problems with Open Notes

My first reaction to hearing that patients could see and amend their charts was, "Oh, no!"

My reaction is not unique among primary care physicians (PCPs). For those of us who do not welcome this development, what are we worried about?

The OpenNotes Project - Why Do We Need It?

In my August 9th post, I introduced you to the OpenNotes project. If you are wondering why we need the study, here is a two-word answer: informational technology.

The OpenNotes Project - Introduction

Have you ever read what your physicians and nurses have written in your medical chart? If not, would you want to?

For the next few posts, we'll explore the OpenNotes project in the context of Healthy Survivorship.

Judging Others

Rabbi David Wolpe writes a wonderful blog called "Off the Pulpit" that often offers useful messages for patients. This week, Wolpe offers a tool that can help foster healing relationships, an essential element of healing for Healthy Survivors.

Costs and Benefits of Counseling

In Razing and Rising, I mention that Healthy Survivors "seek guidance and support." What if you've never needed professional counseling before?

Razing and Raising

Let's talk about breaking down and then building up, destroying and re-creating, or, as I entitled this post, razing and raising. And what does this have to do with Healthy Survivorship?