"Identifying, Engaging, and Supporting CarePartners in Primary Care Settings: A Portal-Based Intervention"

Millions of Americans are care partners but they are rarely identified or supported in care delivery. With a portal-based questionnaire, Catherine DesRoches, DrPH and Deborah Wachenheim, MPP identified participants with caregiving responsibilities and further evaluated them in order to offer support. Read now. (open access 🔓)

DesRoches CM, Wachenheim D, Ameling J, Cibildak A, Cibotti N, Dong Z, Drane A, Henderson J, Hurwitz I, Meddings J, Naimark J, O'Donnell K, Winger C, Winnay SS, Young J, Wolff JL. Identifying, engaging, and supporting care partners in primary care settings: a portal-based intervention. BMC Prim. Care 26, 356 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-03059-7

"Critical AI Health Literacy As Liberation Technology: A New Skill for Patient Empowerment"

As artificial intelligence transforms health care, patients are increasingly using generative AI to question, reinterpret, and even resist institutional decisions. This provocative commentary, from Hugo Campos and Liz Salmi, introduces “Critical AI Health Literacy” as a new skill set for patients seeking agency and equity in the digital age of medicine. Read now. (open access 🔓)

Campos H, Salmi L. Critical AI Health Literacy As Liberation Technology: A New Skill for Patient Empowerment. NAM Perspectives, National Academy of Medicine. Published online December 8, 2025. https://doi.org/10.31478/202512a

"Solutions for Increased Adoption of Patient Portal Shared Access: A Human-Centered Design Approach Using the Double Diamond Model"

Using a human-centered design approach, OpenNotes and researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health explored how to improve awareness and adoption of shared access to patient portals for older adults and their care partners. Their findings highlight the importance of simplifying portal registration processes and standardizing terminology. Read now. (open access 🔓)

Scerpella DL, Salmi L, Hurwitz I, Norris A, McDaniel K, Epstein S, Wolff DL, DesRoches CM. Solutions for increased adoption of patient portal Shared Access: A Human-centered design approach using the Double Diamond Model. Applied Clinical Informatics. 2025;16(05):1728-1737. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2710-4288 

"Sliver of Hope"

In this essay in JAMA, nephrologist Aditya S. Pawar, MD, writes about how it felt for his patient to pass away having never told her that she was ineligible for a transplant. It's a call for better communication with patients...even when the news is bad. Read about this patients's story. (paywalled 🔒)

Pawar AS. Sliver of Hope. JAMA. Published online November 07, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.20418

"The Transgender Cancer Patient and What She Heard on Tape"

When a trans woman decided to tape her surgery to make sure nothing was omitted from her medical records, she discovered that the medical team was misgendering her. During the procedure, the staff decided to change her medical records to "male" without consulting her. Read her story.

"What the Next Generation of Doctors Needs to Know About AI"

Whereas 60% of undergraduate programs are incorporating curricula on artificial intelligence, only 14% of medical schools have done the same. Meghna Chakrabarti speaks with experts including providers using AI in their practice and the dean of Stanford Medical School, which is introducing a new AI curriculum. Listen or read the story.

"People Are Uploading Their Medical Records to A.I. Chatbots"

Lacking clear answers from the medical system, patients are turning to large language models for their medical mysteries. Some are being correctly diagnosed by chatbots, but few are worried about the data privacy concerns that come with handing over their medical record. Read the full article.

Apply Today to Join the OpenNotes Lab Insight Panel

OpenNotes is expanding its Insight Panel—a diverse group of patients, care partners, and clinicians. Join us to co-design a study that examines a patient-facing scribe/chat tool to support people during and between clinic visits. We have received over 100 applications, but are particularly looking for applicants who are members of underrepresented communities. Apply today.