How can patients and their relatives make their concerns heard by healthcare professionals? Many serious adverse events are preceded by patients' worry and concern. This article explores changes in the structures and processes of healthcare that might facilitate safer systems. One important tool might be the ability of patients to become equal partners in the recording of their clinical history.

Medical history taking is an important step within the diagnostic process. This study aims to assess the quality and usability (effectiveness, satisfaction, efficiency) of a web-based medical history taking app in the emergency department. During three weeks, patients and junior physicians filled out study questionnaires about the app. Senior physicians rated the quality of medical histories taken by junior physicians and app. In 241 patients, the studied app showed excellent usability with patients not in need of immediate medical attention. Senior physicians rated medical histories as more complete when app was used by patients in comparison to conventional history taking alone (p<0.01). Current app could not substitute medical history taking by physicians, but could definitely rather be used to gather ancillary information.

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