Not sure I understand what you mean when you write “you–as the patient–can be the one to compile and share distinct pieces of your health information among your healthcare providers.”

If you mean that the patient must post info from their providers rather than the provider posting the info/notes, you will seriously undermine the value of the data. In my experience, docs want to know what docs say/write, not the patient’s interpretation of what the doc told him or her. Also, most patients won’t do it.

Additionally, I understand your enthusiasm for the potential of Blue Button but, in all candor, the reality isn’t even close to what you describe.

Eg., the information you get when you download your Medicare records using Blue Button is virtually useless to both patient and doc. It is insurer-type info listing the date, the provider you saw, the “Submitted Amount,” the amount Medicare allowed for the visit, etc. The text in “Procedure Code/Description” and the “Modifier Description” are generic boiler plate. The only substantive data are the “Diagnostic Codes” – which are meaningless numbers to patients and most providers.

We’re building Blue Button patient access to data into the “Meaningful Use” incentive program for providers and hospitals — that means that within about a year all participating healthcare providers (the majority of providers in the US) will have the capability to enable their patients to view, download, and share their data electronically with others. One of the benefits of exporting data (in response to Merle Buskin) is that you–as the patient–can be the one to compile and share distinct pieces of your health information among your healthcare providers so you and they can get a more complete picture of your health.

Another benefit is that you can feed your health data into apps and tools that let you do cool stuff with it — understand it better, visualize where your health is relative to your goals, and check for (and address) errors or omissions in your medical record. To turbocharge development of great consumer applications, we’re writing technical guidance for providers and programmers that evolves some of the standards that support Blue Button. And we’re doing it with input from about 70 organizations. Through “Blue Button +” standards, patients will be able to get regular automatic updates of their health information electronically. That means programmers can build even better tools that really make the information useful.

There’s a lot going on with Blue Button–including a Pledge Program to support Data Holders who want to share their data: http://healthIT.gov/pledge, technical standards work: http://wiki.siframework.org/Automate+Blue+Button+Initiative, a design challenge to make the information usable (and beautiful): http://healthdesignchallenge.com, and a video challenge for members of the public http://bluebuttonvideo.challenge.gov

Follow the latest on Blue Button via http://healthIT.gov/bluebutton

Your VA Notes are available for viewing seven (7) days after your VA health care team member signs the note.” (from VA Customer Service, via email)

When will the “7 days” get reduced, and whne will the older notes be available?

Great to see that OpenNotes is now available. The initial qualitative data hinted that patients will be more involved with their care. Is anyone tracking the clinical impact?
http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1363511