Germany's Healthcare Digital Transformation Speeds Up with EHRs
The digital transformation of healthcare in Germany is accelerating. As of late last week, nearly 61,600 medical practices have started using electronic health records (EHRs), with over 93% equipped to do so. This move is expected to significantly enhance patient care and system efficiency.
The EHR system, which is 'policyholder-based', does not replace practice documentation but rather complements it. It stores data on servers in Germany, with every access logged for security and transparency. Patients can view and control access to their data via an app provided by their health insurance company.
The EHR system is set to become mandatory for all medical practices, pharmacies, and hospitals across Germany by October 1, 2025. Doctors and psychotherapists will be required to fill the EHR with current findings, medical letters, and lab values. This move aims to improve interoperability and patient care. Already, starting October 1, 2023, doctors are required to enter important patient data into the EHR system.
The EHR includes an automatically generated list of medications and will gradually incorporate more treatment data. In a later expansion stage, pseudonymized data from the EHR will be used for research purposes, further advancing healthcare knowledge and practices.
The widespread adoption of EHRs in Germany is poised to revolutionize healthcare. With the system's mandatory use by 2025, patients and healthcare providers alike can look forward to enhanced care coordination, improved data security, and better health outcomes.
