German family doctors continue to criticize the electronic patient record system. The head of the family physicians' association rates the idea highly but the execution poorly. Health facilities have been required to enter data into the ePA since October 1.
The electronic patient record (ePA) continues to face skepticism from family doctors. Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth, chair of the family physicians' association, told the «Rheinische Post»: «I give the idea an 'A' grade, but the execution by the health insurers, industry, and the digital agency Gematik a 'fail'.» She noted that three-quarters of practices reported technical issues in a survey by the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung over recent months: «This destroys trust.»
Since October 1, health facilities must enter key data such as findings or lab values into the ePA. These records are meant to accompany patients for life and contribute to better treatments. Buhlinger-Göpfarth rejected claims that the ePA contains masses of incorrect diagnoses: «We doctors handle over 500 million cases per year in our practices, so in individual cases, diagnoses may be entered incorrectly or outdated,» she said. «More transparency through the ePA is good there. But it's not a mass problem.»
The association leader calls on the federal government to quickly introduce a family doctor system: «Our proposal: Those who go to the family doctor first get a faster specialist appointment if needed. That's a good incentive.» The ePA aims for more efficient care but faces technical hurdles that undermine trust.