OurNotes at BIDMC

FAQs

How to plan for your telephone or video visit

Who will see my comments on this form?

Your comments will become a permanent part of your electronic health record and they can be viewed as a “Patient Note” in PatientSite. Your healthcare provider will be able to view what you write before or during your visit, and may also include your comments in the note that s/he writes about the visit. As with your entire record, the patient note or the healthcare provider’s note can also be reviewed by other clinicians involved in your care.

When will my healthcare provider read the comments in my form?

When possible, your healthcare provider will review your form at or before your visit.  Your form will not be reviewed at all if you do not keep your appointment.   It can be helpful to remind your healthcare provider that you have completed the form at the time of your visit in case they have not yet seen the form.

I get a chance to fill out a form before the visit with some of my healthcare providers, but not all of them. Why?

Not all healthcare providers are currently participating in this program, although we hope to expand its use. You will only get an invitation to complete the pre-visit form for healthcare providers who are participating.

What is telemedicine?

“Telemedicine” or “telehealth” refers to healthcare visits over the telephone or by video. In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Health Care Associates has moved many appointments to this new telemedicine format, to help limit coronavirus spread.

I am worried about coronavirus. Where can I learn more?

This is a stressful time and we support your efforts to stay positive and healthy. There are many helpful resources available to you. We recommend:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Monitoring COVID-19: Keeping our Communities Healthy
• JAMA patient page: Stopping the spread of COVID-19
• How to wash your hands
• How to sanitize your cell phone
• A Practical Guide to Staying Safe During the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day

What is OurNotes?

OurNotes is a new project that is part of the OpenNotes movement. OurNotes invites patients to contribute important information before the visit to help patients and healthcare providers improve care together.