The article Digitalization and health: What do e-prescriptions and digital patient files really bring? by Christian Erxleben first appeared on BASIC thinking. You can always stay up to date with our newsletter.
With the introduction of the digital patient file (ePA) and the expansion of e-prescriptions, the topics of digitalization and health are expected to grow more and more together in Germany. The question arises: What does this really mean? And above all: Do both projects have positive effects for patients and doctors?
Under the leadership of SPD Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, the Federal Republic of Germany is heading into the digital future.
With the Start of the e-prescription on January 1, 2024 and the Start of the electronic patient file (ePa) From January 15, 2025, the federal government has launched two major projects that are intended to link digitalization and health.
One year of e-prescriptions in Germany: An interim conclusion
At least with e-prescriptions it is already possible to draw an initial interim conclusion. Issuing e-prescriptions has actually been mandatory for all medical practices in Germany since January 1, 2024. However, reality shows that this obligation is far from being fully fulfilled.
A spokesman for the German Pharmacists Association In mid-December 2024 it was said that 75 percent of medications were prescribed via e-prescription. That is significantly more than the quota in 2023 Medical Journal is just 2.3 percent.
Technical problems
Nevertheless, the figures from 2024 show that there is still room for improvement. Ultimately, 25 percent are still missing to fulfill the quota. The reasons for using the classic paper recipe are often emergency situations and technical problems.
On the other hand – i.e. for the patient – the e-prescription often causes frustration. The medical practices or the issuing doctors are often to blame for this. It is not uncommon for the medical assistant to say when leaving the practice that the e-prescription is immediately saved on the card.
No reliance for the patient
A few minutes or even hours later when you visit the pharmacy, you often get a nasty surprise: the e-prescription is not there. The (angry) call to the doctor’s office then leads to hypocritical excuses that the doctor hasn’t yet managed to digitally sign the prescription.
While the old paper prescription was usually signed immediately, the signing now often slips through in the stressful everyday practice. Those who suffer are the patients who have to wait even longer for their medication and who also have no control or certainty as to whether the e-prescription is actually on the card.
At this point, medical practices need clearer communication and better approval processes so that the step towards more digitalization in the healthcare industry is not accompanied by more frustration.
Digital patient file: Only helpful with a false bottom
Although digital patient records will not be available to patients until January 2025, hospitals and doctor’s offices have had to begin digitizing the millions of paper records in recent years to comply with upcoming legislation.
Helpful for doctor and patient
In terms of the basic idea, the digital patient file is a great idea. On the one hand, it enables every single German to gradually gain an overview of their diagnoses, medications and medical notes without having to keep doctor’s letters for years.
The advantage is also available for doctors and medical staff: especially in an emergency or during an initial presentation, all you need to do is look at the digital patient file and the medical history can be viewed immediately.
What previous illnesses are there? Which medications have been prescribed in the last few months? What investigations were carried out? With the digital patient file, the burden is no longer on the patient to remember everything. The ePA helps to improve medical treatment.
IT attacks on hospitals are increasing dramatically
At the same time, the digital patient file is also a double-edged sword. Since hospitals and clinics have very sensitive personal data, they are very interesting for hackers and blackmailers who attack and paralyze the critical IT structure of hospitals.
In 2023 and 2024, dozens of hospitals in Germany were affected – including, for example, the Ingolstadt Hospital, the Düsseldorf University Hospital and a number of hospitals in Berlin such as the Wald Hospital in Spandau.
Medical work impossible
The consequences in such cases are fatal. If the entire IT structure is down, all data is missing. This starts with the planned surgery dates, extends to created digital images from ultrasound etc. and extends to the patient files.
In short, a hacked hospital is essentially unable to treat patients. This is an essential danger that unfortunately receives far too little attention as digitalization and health converge.
No digitization at any price
The conclusion after the first steps in the digital world is therefore mixed for the German healthcare system. If all processes work, e-prescriptions and digital patient records can make many processes easier and faster for doctors and patients.
However, reality shows that sufficient structures have not yet been created to guarantee smooth processes. That’s why digitalization is currently often still the proverbial block in the leg of medicine.
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The article Digitalization and health: What do e-prescriptions and digital patient files really bring? by Christian Erxleben first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a tech industry expert, I believe that digitalization in healthcare, including e-prescriptions and digital patient files, brings numerous benefits to both healthcare providers and patients.
E-prescriptions streamline the prescription process, making it more efficient and reducing the risk of errors. By sending prescriptions directly to pharmacies electronically, healthcare providers can ensure that patients receive the correct medications in a timely manner. This also helps to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety.
Digital patient files allow for easier access to patient information, enabling healthcare providers to make more informed decisions about patient care. Having all of a patient’s medical history and treatment information in one place also helps to improve communication and coordination among healthcare providers.
Overall, digitalization in healthcare helps to improve efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. It also has the potential to improve the overall quality of care and reduce healthcare costs in the long run. However, it is important to ensure that patient data is protected and secure to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality.
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