Electronic patient records: Doctors are required from October!

Electronic patient records: Doctors are required from October!

Major changes are imminent in the healthcare landscape of the Federal Republic of Germany: From October 1, 2025, the use of electronic patient records (ePA) will be mandatory for medical practices. According to that Black Forest messenger 1.37 million insured people have already activated their ePA, an increase of 170,000 since mid-July. In total there are already 45 million ePAs. This development is eagerly awaited by the AOK federal association leader Carola Reimann, because she predicts that the number of insured people who come into contact with the ePA will increase dramatically.

Of the approximately 74 million people with statutory health insurance, around 70 million have received an ePA since the beginning of the year. Doctors already had the opportunity to use the ePA voluntarily, but from next month there will no longer be any choice: practices will be obliged to upload relevant data. Currently, 58,000 of the 98,500 medical practices participate in the ePA system, including over 19,700 dental practices and 727 clinics.

Looking to the future of the ePA

In order to cope with the digital transformation in healthcare, practices must be technically upgraded by the deadline. Gematik expects that more than 90 percent of practices and pharmacies will be ready to use the system by October 1st. 1.9 million documents are currently uploaded to the ePA every week, a sign of the lively activity in this area.

The electronic patient file should not only bundle findings and laboratory values, but also improve treatment. The Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes that health insurance companies are obliged to inform their insured persons comprehensively about how the ePA works and also point out their rights. Patients can object to the transmission and storage of their data, especially when it comes to sensitive information.

A competition between providers

Private insurance companies currently have the option of offering ePAs, but this remains on a voluntary basis for the time being. Currently, five of 36 private providers offer electronic health records. There is huge interest among statutory health insurance companies: 800,000 insured people at the Techniker Krankenkasse are already actively using the ePA, while Barmer has over 300,000 active users.

A not insignificant aspect is raising awareness among doctors, who are obliged to inform their patients about what data is stored in the ePA and what rights they have. In addition to the positive aspects of digitalization, it is also important to increase awareness of data protection and freedom of information. The redesign of the healthcare system is not just a question of technology, but also affects the fundamental rights of citizens.

In summary, the electronic patient record plays a key role in digital healthcare and will create a mandatory everyday life for medical professionals and patients. It remains exciting to see how the challenges of implementation are overcome.