Transparency in psychiatric care

Transparency in medical care is emerging as a new standard. In the United States, patients have always been able to access to their chart in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), established in 1996. Such access, nevertheless, can be time consuming and burdensome. Among the many provisions afforded by HIPAA are the security and privacy of health data. Physicians are recently coming to realize the benefits enjoyed by patients and the healthcare system when the information in a patient's chart is made available in real-time. Psychiatrists often find the concept of revealing their progress notes, however, quite provocative and controversial. In these evolving times, it is important for psychiatrists to recognize the potential consequences and advantages of sharing their progress notes with patients. This review provides guidelines for psychiatrists to follow regarding proper documentation of progress notes and how to successfully share that information with patients.