Electronic Patient Record (ePA): All information at a glance

From January 2025, all people with statutory health insurance will receive an ePA. This marks a significant step in the digitalisation of the healthcare system. The digital patient file makes it possible to manage health data securely and centrally, resulting in many benefits for patients and their care. Here you can find out what functions the ePA offers and what will change from 2025.

The Electronic Patient Record (ePA) is a personal, secure storage location for your health data. It enables you and your authorised healthcare professionals to manage your health and medical data digitally. Until now, anyone who wanted to use the ePA had to apply for it. From 2025, all people with statutory health insurance in Germany will automatically receive an ePA unless they object. This will simplify its use for insured persons, but it will remain voluntary. 

The ePA offers a wide range of functions that optimise your healthcare. It serves as a central storage location for findings, diagnoses, therapy measures, doctor's letters and other medical documents. Treating doctors have access to all important information, which significantly improves communication and coordination of your treatment. Unnecessary multiple examinations and duplicate treatments are thus avoided.
Doctors can store the following data in your electronic patient file:

• Treatment data such as findings, diagnoses and therapeutic measures
• Doctor's letters that were created in the course of treatment
• Electronic medication plans and emergency data records
• The electronic dental bonus booklet
• The electronic examination booklet for children
• The electronic maternity record
• Electronic vaccination documentation (digital vaccination record)
• Other electronic prescriptions

You always retain control of the data. You manage the access authorisations for medical professionals and determine who can access which data. If necessary, you can appoint representatives to manage the digital patient file on your behalf. 

With the introduction of the "ePA for all" in January 2025, there will be various options for accessing the patient file. You will be able to view your ePA and restrict access rights at so-called ombudsman centres. With your Electronic Health Card (eGK), you will also be able to use the ePA directly in the doctor's surgery or with service providers. You can also access your ePA digitally and flexibly via the "AOK Mein Leben" app. There you can conveniently use all the options and keep track of your medical data. A desktop client for use on PCs, laptops and tablets will be released in the course of 2025. 

The security of your health data is a top priority. The ePA uses state-of-the-art encryption technologies and access controls to prevent unauthorised access. Neither the technology service providers involved nor AOK Rheinland/Hamburg have access to your data. The framework conditions for the ePA are regulated by the Digital Act and apply equally to all insured persons and their health insurance companies. 

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