VA mental health clinician experiences and attitudes toward OpenNotes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health clinician attitudes toward and experiences with OpenNotes (also known as Blue Button), which provides patients direct access to clinical notes online.


METHOD
A 35-item online survey was administered to 263 mental health clinicians and nurses from one VA Medical Center.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine percent of eligible subjects participated. Most respondents agreed or somewhat agreed that OpenNotes is a good idea in general, but only half agreed that making mental health notes available online is a good idea. Most believed that patients will better remember plans of care and be better prepared for visits. Most also felt that patients will worry more and request changes in notes. Many clinicians reported being less detailed and changing the tone of their notes.


CONCLUSION
As a group, mental health clinicians are positive about OpenNotes in general but ambivalent about the use of OpenNotes in mental health care. The results call for research on outcomes of OpenNotes use in mental health and to develop education and support to help clinicians adapt to OpenNotes.
['Dobscha|Steven K|SK|', 'Denneson|Lauren M|LM|', 'Jacobson|Laura E|LE|', 'Williams|Holly B|HB|', 'Cromer|Risa|R|', 'Woods|Susan|S|']
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel D030881:Disclosure D004282:Documentation D057286:Electronic Health Records D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008605:Mental Health Services D009722:Nurse Practitioners D011568:Psychiatric Nursing D011570:Psychiatry D011584:Psychology D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014481:United States D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Mental health Veterans Attitude of health personnel Electronic health records Health services research