The healthcare industry has been focused on improving patient engagement across the medical care spectrum in efforts to boost health outcomes. Both Stage 2 and Stage 3 Meaningful Use requirements under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs have specific objectives centered on enhancing patient engagement. Healthcare providers have been aiming to meet these requirements, which has brought forth patient portal implementations throughout many hospitals and clinics.
Along with patient portals, it may be beneficial for patients to access notes that their physicians write during a physical exam or a typical visit, according to researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). A press release from BIDMC states that following a format that allows users to access their physicians’ notes – a program called OpenNotes – could improve patient safety as well as the overall quality of care.
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