Electronic health card with more features

New applications for the electronic health card

07/25/2014

Over the years, the introduction of the electronic health card (eGK) has been delayed over and over again. Now all insured should have been equipped with the new card since the beginning of the year. However, this does not use all the possibilities that were originally intended. In the coming years, however, significant benefits will be expected for the eGK.

The eGC was supposed to be introduced in early 2006, but cost criticism, data security concerns, and other planning issues have delayed their introduction to date. Although the new insurance card is mandatory since the beginning of the year, but the old cards are still valid, since so far no agreement on a binding expiry date could be reached between the medical profession and the health insurance. In the background, however, the umbrella organizations of health care providers and payers of the German health service are working in the Gesellschaft für Telematikwendungen der Gesundheitskarte mbH (Gematik) to build up the necessary infrastructure and possible new functions for the eGK.

Health data highway ready next year
At present, the construction of the infrastructure is still underway as part of the IT billions project. Lines must be laid and card terminals set up. „Next year is the health data highway“, quotes the news agency „dpa“ Gematik Managing Director Arno Elmer. Afterwards, it only has to be filled with life. The Gematik calls here as measures, which are already in the preparation, „in addition to providing telematics infrastructure (TI) and qualified electronic signatures (QES)“ five other applications: online review and update of insured reins, emergency data management, secure communication between physicians and healthcare providers, the introduction of an electronic case record, and drug therapy safety assessment.

Federal Health Minister plans e-health law
Overall, limping „Germany on the subject of e-health afterwards“, reports the head of the German Doctors Association, Ulrich Weigeldt, compared to the „dpa“. According to the physician, other countries are significantly further here. There, the doctors would only open their notebook and then immediately have the disease data of the patient available. In fact, the benefits of the newly created infrastructure will become apparent only with the introduction of appropriate digital applications. According to the message Agency „dpa“ In view of the persisting difficulties in introducing the eGK, the Federal Minister of Health Hermann Gröhe (CDU) has now declared that an already planned e-health law should be initiated in October. For example, the online check of the insured status and the digital update of the insured data will be available from the end of 2015 onwards. The electronic signature is to be introduced from 2016.

Save information for emergencies
The so-called emergency data management forms another new application of the eGK. Insureds should voluntarily have emergency-related information stored on their eGC, which can then be read by doctors or emergency staff without the involvement of patients. For example, information on existing medications, allergies, drug intolerances, but also on pregnancies, implants and much more could be transmitted in this way, reported the Gematik. The address of the attending physician can also be saved, as well as the contact details of relatives to be informed in an emergency. Furthermore, the possibility exists at the request of the patients as well „to provide an indication of the existence of a living will and / or an organ donation statement.“

Improved communication between the attending physicians
Gematik, the digital communication between physicians and other service providers in the healthcare sector, describes the further expansion of eGK benefits. Previously, the information would have to be sent by post, which is why important information is not always available promptly to a physician attending. „Through the introduction of secure communication, findings can be sent electronically, legally binding, secure and compatible between physicians“, reports the Gematik. The planned introduction of an electronic case file also serves to improve communication between facilities and physicians involved in the treatment of a patient.

Avoid interaction of drugs with ECG
With regard to drug safety, the electronic health card should offer the possibility in the future, „all medication data, drug prescription data and therapy proposal data“ so that the attending physician or pharmacist has an overview of the medicines taken and unwanted interactions can be better avoided. An automatic examination of the various prescribed drugs for possible interaction is already being considered. All in all, the introduction of many new applications for the eGK is expected in the coming years, and e-health will also become significantly more important in Germany. (Fp)