Germany Mandates Electronic Patient Records from October 1st
From October 1st, doctors and hospitals in Germany will be legally required to use the electronic health record (ePA). The government aims to digitize healthcare with this mandatory move, making it part of everyday life.
Under the new rules, medical practices and hospitals must systematically transfer health data to the ePA. From October 1, 2025, they will be legally required to enter current treatment data, such as doctor's letters, lab findings, and reports of treatments, into the ePA. This is provided the patient has not objected. The ePA module is provided by health insurance companies, with practices responsible for filling it in using the treatment context verified via the health card. Strict data protection and IT security requirements apply to the access and management of ePA data.
Every legally insured person will receive an ePA, but there's no obligation to actively use it. The success of the ePA depends on the harmonious interaction of technology, data protection, and practice realities. Patients will retain control and regulate access rights via apps and systems. The ePA aims to centralize health data for streamlined treatments, preventing duplicate examinations, reducing errors, and saving time. However, data protection experts have criticized the ePA due to the central storage of highly sensitive health data and potential misuse.
The mandatory use of ePA in Germany starts October 1st, aiming to digitalize healthcare. It promises improved patient care through centralized health data but raises concerns about data protection. In emergency situations, the ePA could provide crucial information, and patients will have all relevant health information at their fingertips.
