Patients recording, either audio or video, their encounters with healthcare providers has become increasingly common. While healthcare providers may be alarmed when a patient asks to record their visit, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Recording patient encounters has both risks and benefits.
Benefits of Patients Recording Visits
Patients often forget or misunderstand instructions given, education provided, or information provided during informed consent discussions. Recordings allow patients and their families or caregivers to review your conversations which could improve patient (and family/caregiver) understanding of their condition and treatment options.
This is especially helpful for patients with complex health issues, cognitive issues, language barriers, or low health literacy. Recordings can make patients feel more empowered and involved in their care. All these benefits work to improve patient compliance and outcomes.
Additionally, recordings reduce the risk of miscommunication or misunderstandings and provide an accurate record of what was said, potentially reducing liability in cases of disputed advice or misunderstandings.
Risks of Patients Recording Visits
Recording without consent may violate state laws, depending on one-party vs. two-party consent laws. If a healthcare provider refuses to allow an encounter to be recorded, it could erode the patient’s trust in the doctor-patient relationship. The healthcare provider may feel pressured, anxious, or defensive if they know they are being recorded and could lead to less open communication or a more rigid consultation style.
The patient may share the recording with others than those involved in the patient’s care and treatment. Recordings stored on personal devices or cloud services may be vulnerable to hacking. Additionally, recordings could be used in malpractice suits or disciplinary actions.
Balancing the Risks and Benefits
Encourage your patients to ask permission prior to recording so that you are aware that your encounter is being recorded. Have open conversations with your patients about how the recording can be used to improve patient care. Ask your patients to be respectful of privacy and not include other patients or staff members in video recordings. Ask the patient to share the recording with you and include it in the patient’s medical record to reduce the risk of the recording being altered.
The doctor-patient relationship is built on trust, empathy, and open communication. Technology – recordings included – should enhance, not replace, these foundational elements. Patients recording visits with their physicians is more than a technological trend; it reflects broader shifts in healthcare culture. With clear communication, mutual respect, and thoughtful policies, recording can serve as a bridge to better understanding and improved outcomes.
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