Lala: “OpenNotes is uniquely positioned to help society harness the immense benefits that come with people having easier access to their medical records.”
As OpenNotes’ first Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Om Lala is leading our strategic efforts to expand the impact of open notes and to articulate a vision for the future of transparency in healthcare. Lala is passionate about empowering underserved populations through improved digital user experience (UX) and evidence-based coaching.
“I’m thrilled to join OpenNotes at such an exciting time in history,” said Om Lala, MD, MBA, MPhil, Chief Innovation Officer for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.” As the health care industry increasingly navigates advancements in AI and health policy that mandates further transparency, I think we’re uniquely positioned to help society harness the immense benefits that come with people having easier access to their medical records.”
Prior to joining OpenNotes in Boston, Dr. Lala led the effort to bring open notes to New York City Health + Hospitals, the largest safety net hospital system in the U.S., serving 1.4 million patients. His method of measuring a successful implementation of open notes—and deploying principles from behavioral economics to increase patient engagement—was featured in NEJM Catalyst as a model for other health systems.
Throughout his career, Lala’s focus has been on harnessing technology to improve healthcare and catalyze positive behavior change. At McKinsey & Company, he co-designed a digital pay-for-performance dashboard that was widely used by Medicaid. He went on to co-found a venture-backed pediatric tech startup, where he worked with designers of the Apple Store to reimagine patients’ digital user experience in the exam room. His academic work in behavior change led him to serve as Senior Researcher at Harvard Business School, where he conducted research on “nudges,” coaching effectiveness, and transparency. He subsequently became Executive Director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean, Harvard Medical School, where he led continuing education initiatives for 20,000+ coaches, physicians and psychologists globally. His coaching clients have ranged from C-level executives and physician leaders, to low-income patients seeking to achieve their health goals.
“Patient-centeredness is a hallmark of OpenNotes, and I’m looking forward to expanding the real-world impact of this celebrated organization,” said Lala. “As we advance research and operations, OpenNotes will be developing scalable ways to help patients and clinicians harness the benefits of transparency in healthcare. Increasing patient engagement and equitable access to these benefits continues to be core to our work.”
A graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Business School, Om also earned a Master of Philosophy in Public Health from the University of Cambridge, UK. His work at OpenNotes is funded in part by The John F. Keane & Family Scholar Program.
About OpenNotes
OpenNotes is an international movement spreading, studying, and teaching about transparent communication among patients, families, and clinicians. When clinical notes are shared with patients, we call these ‘open notes.’ We are motivated by evidence indicating that when health professionals offer patients and families ready access to clinical notes, the quality and safety of care improves. OpenNotes is not-for-profit and is funded entirely by federal and philanthropic grants and gifts. Based at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, OpenNotes does not develop software and is not a technology company.
About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,800 physicians and 36,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
We're funded by grants, philanthropy, and supporters like you. Your entire tax-deductible donation will go to spreading the OpenNotes movement.
