Study: The electronic patient record in a European country comparison

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Where does Germany stand when it comes to implementing the electronic patient record across Europe? This was determined by the study by the Münch Foundation.

To this end, the Münch Foundation examined how the introduction of an electronic patient record (EPA) is progressing in Denmark, Israel and Austria. A specially developed European scorecard with a traffic light scheme shows exactly where the individual countries are in implementation. This means that 20 European countries can be compared. The classification in the graphic above classifies red (little advanced), yellow (moderately advanced), green (advanced) and white (not considered). The top places are thus occupied by Denmark, Sweden and Estonia. Germany, on the other hand, only ranks 10th in the implementation of the EPA. We recently reported on a similar eHealth country comparison – although with only 11 nations, but from all over the world.

Germany needs a convincing communication strategy

As the study shows, the successful introduction in countries with a well-established EPA is based on clear guidelines from the legislator. Germany therefore needs a long-term, national eHealth strategy with modular and pragmatic approaches and the political will to successfully implement the project. Experiences and mistakes from other countries must also flow into the development process. Considerable investments are also required to build up comprehensive structures. The decisive key factor for the successful implementation of an EPA is a communication strategy that convinces both citizens and service providers of the advantages.

The authors of the study recommend the following:

1. Germany has to increase its efforts significantly in order not to widen the gap to the top European group – but also to eHealth in general. Knowledge transfer should make it possible to learn from the experiences and mistakes of other nations. Modular and pragmatic approaches should play a key role in this. Above all, considerable investments are required in the establishment of nationwide structures.

2. However, this can only succeed if a long-term national eHealth strategy is developed and strong control structures are formed that want the project to be successful.

3. To do this, the limits must be recognized which the current form of self-government in the German healthcare system has.

The study was carried out on behalf of the Münch Foundation by the Institute for Applied Health Services Research (inav) under the direction of Professor Volker Amelung. It will be published as a book by medhochzwei in December 2016. More information about the study >>

Graphic: Münch Foundation

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