As of: February 9, 2024, 6:21 a.m
By: Robin Dittrich, Julia Hanigk
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The e-prescription has not yet fully established itself, but further digital innovation is already on the horizon.
The next project in the healthcare sector is the e-patient file.
Munich – At the beginning of 2024, the traditional pink paper recipe had to give way to the e-prescription.
Patients have been using it to get their prescription medication since January.
The next step will be the electronic patient record (ePA) and further advance digitalization in this area.
After the e-prescription, the e-patient file should now come
The start of the e-prescription did not go entirely smoothly.
Doctors' practices are struggling with software problems, and digital transmission doesn't work in pharmacies.
The Federal Ministry of Health is nevertheless convinced of success: “The e-prescription makes everyday practice easier because there is no need for manual signatures and journeys,” it says.
After the e-prescription, things will become even more digital in Germany.
(Symbolic image) © Thorsten Gutschalk/IMAGO
Meanwhile, under the leadership of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), work is already underway on the next digital advance: e-patient files.
Everyone who is legally insured should receive this.
A corresponding law has already been passed by the Bundestag.
If everything goes according to plan, e-files could become standard as early as early 2025.
Will the e-patient file “be a natural part of a doctor’s visit” from 2025?
But what exactly is the e-patient record?
It enables the digital recording of important health information such as findings and laboratory values from millions of patients.
“The electronic patient file will only be a success and will of course be part of a doctor’s visit if all important data is stored there,” explained Jens Baas, CEO of the Techniker Krankenkasse.
The new regulations should only apply to those with statutory health insurance.
Private health insurance companies can decide for themselves whether to offer e-files.
The electronic files should be accessible via health insurance apps, among other things.
According to the ministry, those who do not have a smartphone should be able to view the data in selected pharmacies.
The e-files should also apply to children and young people; an objection would have to be lodged by the parents.
“More than ambitious”: AOK expresses doubts about its introduction next year
The electronic patient files are intended to accompany people throughout their lives; an additional file would no longer be necessary.
However, the General Local Health Insurance Funds (AOK) expressed doubts about the introduction as early as next year.
The start in 2025 is “more than ambitious”, as a lot of information from the insured is still needed, it was said.
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Lauterbach supports more digitalization in the health sector
According to Health Minister Lauterbach, it is crucial to bring the e-patient file onto the market as quickly as possible.
This means that the German healthcare system should finally catch up with digitalization after numerous delays.
This would enable doctors to provide better treatments and avoid unnecessary multiple examinations.
In addition, the risk of undesirable drug interactions could be reduced.
What many people don't know: E-files were introduced in 2021, but so far only one percent of insured people have used this offer.
The goal is to have 80 percent of insured people recorded in electronic files by 2025.
Unlike the current model, this would happen automatically unless an objection is lodged.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here. (jh/dpa/rd)