Electronic patient records should prioritize user-centered design within the medical profession.
Germany Advances Electronic Patient Record for Improved Healthcare
Leipzig - The electronic patient record (ePA) is poised to enhance patient care and propel digitalization in the healthcare sector, as suggested by delegates at the 129th German Medical Assembly. Achieving this goal hinges on establishing trust in the security of sensitive data and implementing a user-friendly design, the assembly stressed.
The German Medical Association petitioned the federal government to implement adjustments to the ePA promptly, emphasizing the need for a high level of security, ensured by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). Measures to counter potential attack scenarios should be developed by Gematik, the assembly recommended. Resolving practical and technical issues from pilot regions must precede nationwide implementation, they stated.
Billing data should initially be visible only to insured individuals, enabling them to grant access rights selectively. Critical medical findings should be accessible to patients following medical interpretation, if necessary for therapeutic purposes. The ePA may be dispensed with for children and young people in certain medical or child protection scenarios, the assembly added. Moreover, the assembly called for the expeditious launch of the electronic prescription for narcotics and implementation of full-text search within ePA documents to boost usability.
In the broader context of health digitization in Germany, successful pilot projects have triggered an expansion of access to the ePA for all doctors and pharmacies, with the ultimate goal of universal use among individuals with statutory insurance. e-Prescription is intended to become the standard method for medication prescriptions, yet paper prescriptions remain a backup option.
The Digital Act (DigiG) aims to establish the ePA system nationwide, contributing to the digital transformation of healthcare. By 2025, at least 80% of insured individuals should have an ePA. ePA development includes efforts to create a unified knowledge platform for seamless data exchange between healthcare providers and ensuring compatibility across the system. The digital strategy also prioritizes usability by integrating the ePA with preventative healthcare tools, digital vaccination passes, and offering practical advantages for healthcare professionals.
Other science and technology-driven initiatives, such as data and cloud computing, will play a crucial role in the development and implementation of the electronic patient record (ePA) for improved healthcare in Germany. The unified knowledge platform, designed for seamless data exchange between healthcare providers, should be compatible across the system to ensure efficiency. Medical-conditions data within the ePA must be accessible only to authorized healthcare professionals and individuals with statutory insurance, following strict security protocols. Health-and-wellness applications, including digital vaccination passes, should be integrated with the ePA to facilitate preventative healthcare and promote overall health and wellness.
