HAYS, Kan. - A report published last March by the Journal of General Internal Medicine told us that the average American patient reads at an eighth-grade level. Thus, average medical patients are likely to have some difficulty understanding their own medical records unless given adequate time to study and review the materials.
Now, a study published this week by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests that most patients are dissatisfied with the way they receive results of tests and want more access to information in their medical records, specifically, detailed, lay-language results from the tests.
They believed having access to their own medical records would put them on a more even level with their doctor so that, as patients, they don't have to depend on their doctor to cure their ailments, but rather they can work as a team with their doctors and play an active role in helping themselves.
The majority of participants said they would be interested in a system where they were able to get their own results securely online as soon as they were available. The patients predicted that such a system would give them time before their next doctor's appointment to prepare questions for their doctor, learn about their own condition or disease, and get a jump start on setting up referrals if needed.
Annette J. Johnson, M.D., M.S., an associate professor and lead investigator on the study, explains, "Specifically, they were unhappy with the delay before getting results and the lack of detail when they do find out what the tests showed. The classic, most common story we heard was that the patient went to her doctor for a symptom such as pain, was sent for an MRI and then heard nothing until their next regular doctor's appointment. Then, when the patient asked what the MRI showed, her doctor gave a generic answer - 'Everything was fine.' The patients in our study said that they don't want to hear 'fine' weeks after the test. They want to know details and they want to know them as soon as the results are in."
In particular, this recent study, published Tuesday in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, reports that in general, patients are not happy with the way they receive information about radiology imaging tests, such as MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed Tomography, or "CAT") scans and ultrasounds, and how long it takes to get results.
Co-authors on the study were Doug Easterling, Ph.D., of the School of Medicine, Linda S. Williams, M.D., and Richard M. Frankel, Ph.D., of Indiana University School of Medicine, and Sharon Glover, of Sharon Glover and Associates, Inc.
As a follow up to this patient study, the investigators conducted similar research in a physician population. In that study, radiologists and physicians who use radiological testing often were interviewed in focus groups about the current way radiological tests are reported, what they think could make the system better and how they think patients feel about the existing system.
Somewhat surprisingly, Johnson said, physicians are aware that patients aren't satisfied with the way they currently get their results.
She said, "Patients in our study aren't happy with that system. They want their results quickly, in writing, and they want detailed information about the test results in language they can understand."
Reading medical records is a science of its own. Nurses and doctors have shorthand that is known mostly to them. If the shorthand isn't bad enough, and the medical terminology not intimidating enough, most doctors have handwriting that is barely legible even to themselves! Digital records would be a great improvement.
I find it particularly interesting that you brought up the issue of test results. Conservatives like to pretend that tort reform would cut healthcare costs dramatically, regardless of evidence to the contrary. But imagine how many cases of medical negligence due to failure to inform could be thwarted if patients had the ability to find out the results without relying on the doctor's office staff. That would cut down on many suits and many bad outcomes!
Each writer has the ability to close comments on any of their own stories. I've decided to close comments on this news item for now. Customer service in health care is of particular interest to me due to the cost savings involved in empowering patients with better health information. I'll continue to find more news on this topic.