Can AI Help Patients Understand Their Test Results?

Radiology reports are rich in information, but are often written in language that’s hard for patients to understand. UCHealth researchers, in collaboration with the OpenNotes Lab, are exploring how AI-generated summaries might bridge the gap between transparency and clarity. Read more.

Hospitalized Patient Portal Access in the Post-Information Blocking Rule Era

This single-center, cross-sectional observational study highlighted low portal utilization among hospitalized patients, and disparities in access based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, and insurance status. Read more. (paywalled 🔒)

Cool JA, Zhang C, Yang J, Herzig SJ, DesRoches CM. Hospitalized patient portal access in the post-information blocking rule era. J Hosp Med. 2025 Jun 5. doi: 10.1002/jhm.70093.

People Overtrust AI-Generated Medical Advice Despite Low Accuracy

This publication presented an analysis of how AI–generated medical responses are perceived and evaluated by medical non-experts. The increased trust placed in inappropriate AI-generated medical advice can lead to misdiagnosis. Read more. (paywalled 🔒)

Shekar S, Pataranutaporn P, Sarabu C, Cecchi, GA, Maes P. People Overtrust AI-Generated Medical Advice despite Low Accuracy. NEJM AI. 2025 May 13. doi: 10.1056/AIoa2300015.

Words Matter: What Do Patients Find Judgmental or Offensive in Outpatient Notes?

Did you know that what’s written in a clinician's note can shape how a patient feels about their care? A 2020 OpenNotes study, led by Leonor Fernández, MD, found that patients—especially those struggling with health or social challenges—sometimes feel judged by what they read. This National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reminded that every word matters. Read the publication. (open access 🔓)

Fernández L, Fossa A, Dong Z, Delbanco T, Elmore J, Fitzgerald P, Harcourt K, Perez J, Walker J, DesRoches C. Words matter: What do patients find judgmental or offensive in outpatient notes? Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2021;36(9):2571-2578. doi:10.1007/s11606-020-06432-7 

A Patient’s Bill of Rights

In 1973, the American Hospital Association adopted A Patient’s Bill of Rights, which emphasized that “activities must be conducted with an overriding concern for the values and integrity of patients.” The Bill fueled the patient rights movement, outlining not only rights but also steps patients could take to become more active in their own care. Read more about the history of OpenNotes.