Welcome to "Patiëntvriendelijke Brief"s Wiki.
The Patient‑Friendly Letter project aims to convert medical documents—such as consultation reports and discharge summaries—into language that is understandable for patients. To achieve this, Generative AI is used to reformulate complex medical information into clear, structured, and patient‑oriented text in Dutch, French, and/or English. The patient‑friendly versions are made accessible via eHealth and through the patient portal.
The patient‑friendly letter does not replace the doctor’s verbal explanation, but serves as a supplementary tool that helps patients—and, where relevant, informal caregivers and family members—better understand the information.
By making the information easier to understand, patients gain better insight into their health status and can communicate more effectively with healthcare providers. This supports treatment adherence and proper follow‑up of medical advice, and in the long term contributes to higher health literacy.
International literature also reports additional positive effects of understandable medical communication, such as improved patient engagement, increased self‑management, support for shared decision‑making, and enhanced collaboration between primary and secondary care.
The use of Generative AI furthermore makes it possible to translate medical reports into patient‑friendly language without creating additional workload for healthcare professionals.