The most important questions and answers: This is what you need to know about the electronic patient file

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

Shortly before departure, Health Minister Alain Berset (51) again touched a hot iron. He sends the revision of the electronic patient file (EPD) for consultation. The digital patient record – together with the fax – has become a symbol of the slow pace of digitization in healthcare. In May 2023, just over 20,000 files had been opened.

When the doctor enters the treatment room, she often has a thick blue folder with a lot of paper under her arm. If the patient is sent to a specialist, letters, phone calls or emails are necessary to get all the information back together.

The electronic health record collects electronic documents and data with health information, explains Nassima Mehira, responsible for the EHR at the Federal Public Health Service (BAG). “The doctors can then use the data for treatment and supplement themselves.”

So far, the EPD has been a flop. Not only patients, but also hospitals and nursing homes hardly use it. Only 44 percent of all hospitals and 33 percent of nursing homes are connected — even though the law requires them to be there. But there are no sanctions and apparently only a few incentives to be there.

Many hospitals already have their own practice information system. There are about 80 to 90 different systems on the market. They need an interface to the EHR.

The hospitals would rely on their own systems, says Michael Jordi, secretary general of the cantonal health directors. “That’s wrong for the patients.” In addition, staff training is not advanced enough. And according to the professional association of doctors FMH, a third of medical practices work on paper, writes “SRF”.

Federal councilor Berset presented a radical reform on Wednesday. But the patient file already exists and the FOPH now wants to convince healthcare professionals to participate with a campaign.

At the same time, the digital medical record will be expanded. The vaccination card must also be digitized before the end of this year.

The major revision that Berset is now submitting for consultation stipulates that general practitioners, pharmacists and physiotherapists must also start using the EPD in the future. And the population should also automatically receive a file. Those who do not want one must appeal to the canton within three months.

Not for the population. You can also say no, said Health Secretary Berset. BAG director Mehira also does not believe that there could be coercion later on. “The Federal Council and Parliament should decide that. I can’t imagine they will.” A referendum against such a decision would also be possible.

However, if Berset’s proposal is adopted, unruly hospitals or GPs could be penalized for not using the EHR. The catalog starts with a warning and ends with the withdrawal of the option to claim from the health insurer. Fines of up to CHF 250,000 are also possible.

“The data is yours,” Mehira emphasized several times. The patient can decide for himself which doctors have access to the file. With the new revision, she can also decide whether the data can be used for research.

The data is only shared between the patient and the doctor, says Mehira. Not even an outside doctor has access. “The information remains between doctor and patient.”

The risk of a cyber attack is real and can be devastating. That is why the safety regulations are high, says Gian-Reto Grond of the BAG. That’s what the certification takes care of. «The login is more secure than with e-banking.» In addition, the hospitals would also have emergency plans. (brother)

Source:Blick