Summary:

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate and evaluate "Open Notes," the simple, but potentially powerful intervention of actively sharing physician notes with patients. It repositions notes as being for the patient instead of about the patient. The demonstration will involve approximately 100 physicians and up to 45,000 patients across a diverse set of three prominent medical centers. Project investigators hypothesize that this simple intervention will break down an important wall that currently separates patients from those who care for them. It may promote insight and shared decision-making by bringing closer together the unique expertise of the clinician and the unique understanding of self that each patient possesses. The primary deliverable for the project will be a set of papers reporting on the evaluation. In addition, the team will communicate anecdotal experiences throughout the project.

Grant Details:

Approved award: $1,397,370
Awarded on: May 7, 2009
Time frame: May 15, 2009 - Nov 14, 2011
Grant number: 65921

Grantee:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc.
http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu
330 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215-5491
(617) 667-7000

Contact Information:

Janice D. Walker, R.N., M.B.A. (Project Director)
jwalker1@bidmc.harvard.edu
Phone: (617) 754-1416

Thomas L. Delbanco, M.D. (Project Director)
tdelbanc@bidmc.harvard.edu
Phone: (617) 667-3992