“T” Is for Transparent

Abstract

The relationship of multiply-disadvantaged patients with their health professionals is often characterized by a lack of transparency on both sides. In order to allow the kind of communication that builds trust, increases patient adherence, lowers healthcare costs, and improves the care experience and the health of the patient, increasing transparency is important. Transparency in doctor-patient relationships generally has taken a big step forward with the wide implementation of “OpenNotes,” software that allows patients to read their doctors’ notes about their care. For multiply-disadvantaged patients, i.e., patients for whom trust and adherence have tended to be more difficult, open notes has been particularly effective and appreciated. When notes are available to patients, researchers in the field suggest that doctors should adjust their language a bit to make the notes more engaging. These same adjustments can be used to allow clinical conversations between team members about patients to occur in the presence of the patient, enabling much more meaningful patient participation in their care. The practice of speaking about the patient in the patient’s presence can allow a much more effective transfer of positive relationship with the patient from one team member to other members of the team.

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