AUTHORS' RESPONSE: Sharing notes with patients: A review of current practice and considerations for neurologists
Melissa M.Yu, MD, Assistant Professor, Houston, TXChange to: Mailing Address: Baylor College of Medicine
Allison Weathers, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago); Allan D. Wu, MD (UCLA); and David A. Evans, MBA (Texas Neurology, Dallas.
Submitted April 13, 2017
We thank Dr. Sethi for his comments on our article1 and for sharing his personal experience with open notes. We agree with his comments and want to emphasize that we don't advocate for "watering down" clinical documentation. The integrity
of the clinical note for its primary purpose is paramount. Additionally, although patients may be upset in the short term, calling a spade a spade when it comes to substance use, and the patient's viewing the
documentation in the privacy of their own home may allow the patient to eventually overcome denial and take action. If a note is felt to be particularly sensitive, the provider should have the option to refrain from releasing the note to the patient as well.
Disclosures: M.M. Yu has received funding for travel and/or speaker honoraria from the AAN and is a member of the Epic Neuroscience Steering Board. A.L. Weathers has received funding for travel and/or speaker honoraria from the AAN, North Carolina Neurologic Society, and Los Angeles Neurologic Society; serves on the Editorial Board of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology and serves as chair of the Adult Neuroscience Specialty Steering Board for Epic. A. Wu is a member of the Epic Neuroscience Steering Board; has received speaker honoraria from the AAN; serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Neurology Now; serves on a scientific advisory board and the speakers' bureau for Novartis and Lundbeck; and receives research support from Novartis, Department of Defense/Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, NIH, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, and Today's and Tomorrow's Children Fund. D. Evans serves on the speakers' bureau for and has received funding for travel and speaker honoraria from the AAN; serves on the editorial review board for MGMA Connection; and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Texas Neurology.
Reference:
1. Yu MM, Weathers AL, Wu AD, Evans DA. Sharing notes with patients: A review of current practice and considerations for neurologists. Neurol Clin Pract 2017;7:179-185.
We thank Dr. Sethi for his comments on our article1 and for sharing his personal experience with open notes. We agree with his comments and want to emphasize that we don't advocate for "watering down" clinical documentation. The integrity of the clinical note for its primary purpose is paramount. Additionally, although patients may be upset in the short term, calling a spade a spade when it comes to substance use, and the patient's viewing the documentation in the privacy of their own home may allow the patient to eventually overcome denial and take action. If a note is felt to be particularly sensitive, the provider should have the option to refrain from releasing the note to the patient as well.
Disclosures: M.M. Yu has received funding for travel and/or speaker honoraria from the AAN and is a member of the Epic Neuroscience Steering Board. A.L. Weathers has received funding for travel and/or speaker honoraria from the AAN, North Carolina Neurologic Society, and Los Angeles Neurologic Society; serves on the Editorial Board of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology and serves as chair of the Adult Neuroscience Specialty Steering Board for Epic. A. Wu is a member of the Epic Neuroscience Steering Board; has received speaker honoraria from the AAN; serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Neurology Now; serves on a scientific advisory board and the speakers' bureau for Novartis and Lundbeck; and receives research support from Novartis, Department of Defense/Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, NIH, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, and Today's and Tomorrow's Children Fund. D. Evans serves on the speakers' bureau for and has received funding for travel and speaker honoraria from the AAN; serves on the editorial review board for MGMA Connection; and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Texas Neurology.
Reference:
1. Yu MM, Weathers AL, Wu AD, Evans DA. Sharing notes with patients: A review of current practice and considerations for neurologists. Neurol Clin Pract 2017;7:179-185.