Medscape December 28, 2020
Patients will soon be able to read the notes that physicians make during an episode of care, as well as information about diagnostic testing and imaging results, tests for sexually transmitted diseases, fetal ultrasounds, and cancer biopsies. This open access is raising concerns among physicians.
As part of the 21st Century Cures Act, patients have the right to see their medical notes. Known as Open Notes, the policy will go into effect on April 5, 2021. The Department of Health and Human Services recently changed the original start date of November 2, 2020.
The mandate has some physicians worrying about potential legal risks and possible violation of doctor-patient confidentiality. In a Medscape article discussing the Open Notes mandate, physicians expressed...