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Digitalization in Healthcare: Electronic Patient Record (ePA) and Telemedicine
A. Introduction
Digital transformation is increasingly shaping the healthcare sector in Germany. In particular, the introduction of the Electronic Patient Record (ePA) and the growing importance of telemedicine are changing medical care. These developments aim to improve access to health services, increase efficiency, and enhance patient safety. This article examines the basic concepts of ePA and telemedicine, their current applications in statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) health insurance, as well as the associated potentials and challenges.
B. Fundamentals of Digitalization in Healthcare
Digitalization in healthcare encompasses the integration of digital technologies to improve processes and quality of care. Two central pillars of this development are the ePA and telemedicine.
The ePA is a digital record where a patient's medical information can be securely stored and exchanged between various healthcare stakeholders (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies). It is intended to help optimize treatment quality and avoid duplicate examinations. Patients should be able to manage their health data in a central location and control access to it.
Telemedicine describes medical care provided via digital communication technologies. This includes, for example, video consultations, digital exchange between doctors (teleconsultations), or digital health applications (DiGAs). The goal is to expand access to medical expertise and increase efficiency in patient care. The telematics infrastructure forms the technical basis for secure data exchange.
C. The Electronic Patient Record (ePA): Functions and Significance
The ePA is a central element of the digitalization strategy in the German health system. Since the beginning of 2025, it will be automatically set up for all statutory health insurance (GKV) policyholders (