Reading psychiatrist's notes

Has anyone read their psychiatrist's notes? I think someone posted about a similar topic before, but don't recall all the details. At my GYN appointment yesterday, I was discussing my mood issues with my hormones, and she noted I was doing pyschotherapy and light therapy by looking in the computer. It is the same healthcare network, so I guess some of that info shows up. Not sure if it is notes or just my treatment plan, but either way got me thinking about it.

I kind of want to know what's in my chart/notes if other people can read it especially, and also because I just want to be part of that conversation. I don't really think it would be harmful to me, and I like having everything out on the table so to speak. It's my brain after all haha. Has anyone read theirs and how did it go? If not, any reason why?

All my PCP gets is a note that I saw pdoc, not any of the notes. I have read his notes. Really not anything in them. The real conversation is just between doctor and patient.

I have access to all of mine electronically through the VA. They update them within 3 days of your visit. I’ve only looked at them twice. I like having access to my other information (labs and xrays and whatnot), but I only read a couple of my psych notes. It made me uncomfortable so I stopped. It does bother me that anyone I see for anything at the VA could access my mental health records.

I have read some of the notes.. not much for a while though. There were errors in it. They are spectacularly rushed in this forest, especially GP’s... I did read at least one error written by a shrink though. Having said that, it could be helpful to read your notes, partly to check whether they know what they are saying or not..

My hospital keeps psych notes invisible to other providers. They have access to my med list and allergies and that's it. Even my IP pdocs can't access my pdoc's (in the same hospital system) notes or treatment plan although my pdoc can access my IP records (I don't know in what detail but it seems pretty much all of it).

I like it that way. Because I'm on an MAOI which affects what drugs can be given during surgeries (and I've had several surgeries in the last several years) my pdoc communicates with the surgeons to be sure I'll be safe. Some of the surgeons have been so clueless I'd never want them in my psych notes.

So Id like to chime in. I have always been interested in what my providers say about me in notes UNTIL I had to start writing them for work. Its basically just a detailed reflection of what was discussed.

I see a private pdoc, which means the system cannot get info.

In the system here, psych notes are kept invisible to other providers, too.

I hope your notes are being kept confidential.


WC

I saw some of my psych notes from 5 or 4 years ago. Shocking what they wrote.

I have seen mine , nothing out of the ordinary

Christina is struggling with xyz
Or
Christina is going up
Or
Christina is doing well at baseline

May need to adjust ____ med
Does she want X med or stop X Y or Z

I ultimately agree or disagree and we go from there.

T notes ? Sure many is just a 2-3 sentence my T notes , more if I’m struggling with more complex stuff.

My T doesn’t type everything up we have be together for 8 years.

Have read my IP notes too

Nothing really bothers me by reading them.

I read my medical records. There was nothing of interest except for one excellent assessment. I remember parts of it to this day, verbatim.

I forgot to mention, there was one excellent assessment by a shrink. One hour appointment.

I requested records recently from my clinic. New pdoc types his, old wrote hers, and she has teeny hard to read handwriting. I get maybe 50% of the words (it is truly hard to read). It was a lot to go through but interesting that she gave me a BP2 diagnosis long before she officially told me she’d changed the diagnosis. Though she did tell me after it changed to BP1.

I usually sign consents to share info between my pdocs and PCP. My new rheumatologist is in the same system as my PCP, don’t think she can access the pdoc stuff except anything the PCP wrote down at a visit or with known conditions of mine (I did sign consents for her to share with the PCP info both ways). Otherwise, most docs seem to be able to view my prescriptions for the pharmacy and mail order pharmacy via computer, which would likely lead to them drawing conclusions between things. I usually give medical professionals my diagnoses anyway, even the fibromyalgia and the ulcer stuff since I am still on Protonix for that, and it might be important they know if they prescribe and can’t view pharmacy info, but it is rare. I think only my T cannot see the pharmacy stuff.

I signed a consent today for the T to get records from my pdoc as I think it may be helpful for therapy. Not yet comfortable for him to get her records, and it has been very little time I have seen her whereas this clinic has been treating me since Jan. 2008 and my PCP over 14 years, though she did change practices; so I did as well. Her new practice is closer to my house anyway.

Thanks everyone for the responses.
IRemembermyfirstbee I didn't know the VA system was like that, I can understand that making you uncomfortable. I also can imagine how reading them could be uncomfortable. For my system, I cannot read anything besides my meds--even the stuff listed like the light therapy is not in my patient portal, but clearly other providers can see more than me.

Wild Coyote, it didn't occur to me that it wouldn't be private when I went from the clinical trial to seeing my psychiatrist separately. I think it is probably just my treatment plan not the specific notes, and that details are confidential, but not sure?

Blueberrybook glad you are so comfortable with your psychiatrist. That's interesting they didn't tell you about the diagnosis right away. I plan to ask my psychiatrist directly for my diagnoses when I visit next to make sure they haven't changed things without telling me haha.

Fuzzybear thanks I am also wondering if it would be useful to see what they are writing. My psychiatrist seems great, but also has said I give a "mixed" picture so it might help to see what they are really thinking haha. Also, glad you had the one excellent appointment, you deserve all of them to be excellent, though.

I don't have a pdoc, but I do have a family doctor who deals with all of my issues(crazy or otherwise) he and I also worked together so I can only imagine what he puts in his notes. I know I am quite picky and rather difficult when it comes to everything. I am probably his most difficult patient.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one curious what they write about us.

I was really pissed when the doctor i went to for a sleep study was able to access my mental health record- and the back doctor and the neurologist. I actually a void their medical system now because everything i connected and i have some notes on traumas i dont need every random specialist seeing. even my dermatologist had access to my full psychiatry file. now i see a new doctor who know im going to psychiatry but their separate.

I was offered the opportunity to get my psychiatrist's notes so that I could read them, but then I realized it didn't matter to me. All my pdocs have/had always shared their notes with me (verbally) when I asked. They were pretty transparent about it and I got all the info that I needed to know. Plus, it was booooooring.

Now therapy? I doubt my therapists have/had taken notes on me. They've all never seemed to do it, but I guess you never know. I don't care for it either way. My therapist already told me that I have flat affect and flat (monotonous) voice and said that it's probably why I have no friends since I "probably don't seem interested in them when they see my flat affect." Whatever.

Ive seen the flat affect notes in some psych ER visits. But thats not me all of the time.

IRemembermyfirstbee regarding va notes. Not just anybody can read them. The doctors therapists etc have to slide their I'd card to access records n there are some restrictions to psych records. Their I'd traces what records they have looked at. I can't remember all the specifics about it that my social worker explained to me. Also those doctors are so busy I don't think they have time to read extensive records. Everything on the computers is entered under certain formats so again they may not give a whole lot of detail. I know I can access my records electronically but I haven't done so yet.

Sorry spelling program changed id to I'd.

Mine from my previous pdoc were pretty shocking. In fact, he changed my diagnosis from BP1 to Schizoeffective without even telling me.

Did this bother you?

I hate it when pdocs/therapists reach/change a diagnosis and do not tell their client. I feel strongly this goes against informed consent in treatment. I also feel clients have the right to know their diagnosis(es) and the billing diagnosis(es), which sometimes are not the same. Just my own very humble opinion.


WC

I've read some hospital stay notes. That's it though. I found them a little disturbing, so don't request them anymore.