NYU Langone Health has introduced a new initiative aimed at strengthening the connection between patients and healthcare providers by allowing patients to share personal information in their medical charts. The program, known as “About Me,” was officially launched this year after being conceived during preparations for the adoption of the Epic electronic health record system in 2013.
The idea originated from a conversation between Paul A. Testa, MD, chief health informatics officer, and Katherine Hochman, MD, director of the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Testa asked, “As we’re going live with Epic, how do we make sure we include the patient voice?” Dr. Hochman responded with her own perspective: “If I ever get admitted, I want everybody to know I’m a mom, a German shepherd fanatic, a bibliophile, and a doctor.”
Research indicates that empathy can improve patient engagement and therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Hochman explained the challenge of connecting with patients during shorter hospital stays: “We deliver exceptional care in shorter and shorter lengths of stay, which means there’s less time to connect with patients in meaningful ways. That’s the real challenge.”
Dr. Hochman described her approach to patient care: “Asking simple questions about their lives before you get to the ‘meat’ of the interview really helps melt the anxiety, frustration, and sometimes anger that comes from being in a hospital,” she said. “I recognize that I have just a couple seconds to connect with a patient. It’s a critical moment in a hospital stay that must be recognized as such. We’re complete strangers, and suddenly you have to trust me. I needed that moment of connection. And when we do connect, you’re no longer the heart failure in bed five. You’re the botanist who rehabilitates orchids.”
Initially recorded only in Dr. Hochman’s notes, these personal details were not easily accessible or scalable across NYU Langone’s system. To address this limitation, Kerry O’Brien, MPH, RN—senior director of clinical systems and nursing informatics—and colleagues from Medical Center Information Technology developed an “About Me” prompt within Epic.
Responses from patients generally fell into five categories: hobbies and interests; family; personal and cultural identity; career; and pets. Examples included statements like “I love plants,” “My wife is pregnant with twins,” “I’m a first-generation Haitian American,” and “I listen to salsa music all the time.” The high rate of participation reflects many patients’ desire to be understood during vulnerable times.
Jared Silberlust, MD—a clinical informatics fellow—explained how this information is used: “We’re bringing this data into the electronic health record, which is then visible to every clinician who opens the chart,” he said. “Now, everybody who cares for you, whether they just met you today or whether they’ll know you forever, can have that information and connect with you.”
Dr. Silberlust shared examples where knowing personal details improved care decisions or patient cooperation—including one case where learning about a patient’s long career as a New York City bus driver helped build trust regarding dialysis treatment.
Other stories highlighted by Dr. Silberlust included arranging an early White Coat Ceremony for a terminally ill patient so he could witness his son begin medical school before passing away.
Even small connections have made an impact—for example when staff joined in solving crossword puzzles with one patient who had listed it as an interest.
According to Dr. Testa: “Every time I read it, I get emotional,” he said. “There is no way to look at these and not get emotional, and you see your patients in uniquely personal ways.”
Dr. Hochman added: “It made my joy of practice swell. I am—more than ever—rooting for this botanist in bed five because I want her to get back to her orchids.”
Dr. Testa emphasized why such efforts matter: “Missed opportunities to connect with your patients are missed opportunities to deliver optimal care,” he said. “This is the very definition of patient-centered care.”
Since its pilot launch on 12 units at NYU Langone Health facilities—including Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital—the About Me program has expanded to 35 units overall within NYU Langone Health hospitals (https://nyulangone.org/locations/hassenfeld-childrens-hospital). Some units report up to 80 percent participation among patients; nurses now collect 90 percent of entries.
Kerry O’Brien noted staff enthusiasm for using About Me responses: “The enthusiasm of the operational staff has been great,” she said.“I am hearing people are really excited about how they used the information to connect with patients.When people express themselves,it is a clue into what they value,and incorporating that insight is what we want for all patients.”
NYU Langone plans further expansion across all inpatient units before extending About Me into outpatient settings starting in 2026.
