Insights and Trends in Open Note Access
Author Information
Author(s): Tsafnat Guy, Avdagovska Melita, Sorra Joann, Badwal Randeep Singh, Cavo Paul, Panesar Mandip
Primary Institution: Erie County Medical Center
Hypothesis
This study aims to analyze trends in outpatient open note access over time and characterize usage in terms of age, sex, and clinical interaction type.
Conclusion
Open note access was largely dominated by COVID-19 assessments, and the number of users viewing their notes has declined over time as the pandemic subsided.
Supporting Evidence
- 13.1% of portal registrants viewed their outpatient notes.
- Female patients made up 63.4% of those who accessed notes.
- 38.9% of accessed notes were related to COVID-19 assessments.
- Mobile access to notes decreased with increasing age.
Takeaway
The study looked at how many patients accessed their medical notes online and found that fewer people are doing so now that COVID-19 is less of a concern.
Methodology
A retrospective observational study was conducted using patient portal audit data from Erie County Medical Center over a 14-month period.
Potential Biases
There may be demographic inaccuracies in the patient portal registrations.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the number of unique notes accessed due to duplicate entries and did not separate outpatient from inpatient accounts.
Participant Demographics
The study included 4615 users, predominantly female (63.4%) and users in their 30s and 50s accessed more notes than other age groups.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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