NYHealth and OpenNotes have awarded grants totaling $800,000 to 14 non-hospital healthcare organizations, including clinics and FQHCs, to enhance patient access to clinical notes. These grants aim to ensure compliance with open notes requirements and promote patient engagement. Recipients will receive technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities. The organizations serve diverse populations in New York, including marginalized groups. NYHealth has also provided grant funding to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to offer support to the New York-based grantees.
Grants totaling nearly $800,000 have been awarded by NYHealth and OpenNotes to support primary care providers and federally qualified health centers in enhancing patient access to clinical notes. These grants, distributed among 14 non-hospital healthcare organizations, aim to facilitate compliance with the open notes requirements outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act.
Patient access to clinical notes, also known as open notes, is a critical aspect of patient engagement. It enables individuals to access their health data and provider notes, leading to increased patient activation, better treatment adherence, and improved communication with healthcare providers.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandated the open notes philosophy in 2020, classifying clinician notes as information that should be readily accessible to patients. NYHealth and OpenNotes are now providing grants to fill any remaining compliance gaps regarding open notes requirements.
Previously focused on hospitals, NYHealth has shifted its attention to non-hospital organizations through these grants. Recognizing the significance of primary care in generating provider notes crucial to patient self-management, NYHealth selected 14 healthcare systems, including health clinics and FQHCs, as grant recipients. In addition to financial support, the grantees will receive technical assistance and opportunities for peer learning from NYHealth and OpenNotes.
The selected organizations serve diverse patient populations across New York State, including communities of color, low-income individuals, immigrants, non-English speakers, LGBTQ individuals, homebound seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The following organizations have been awarded grants:
1. Advantage Care Health Centers
2. Anthony L. Jordan Health Center
3. BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers (Brownsville Community Development Corporation)
4. Doctors United
5. Jericho Road Community Health Center
6. La Casa de Salud
7. Mosaic Health
8. Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation
9. Saratoga Community Health Center
10. St. John’s Medical Group (Episcopal Health Services)
11. Syracuse Community Health
12. The Door – A Center of Alternatives
13. Union Community Health Center
14. VIP Community Services
Furthermore, NYHealth has provided grant funding to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts, home to the national OpenNotes program office. This funding will enable BIDMC to offer technical assistance to the 14 grant recipients in New York.
