What is the electronic patient file?
All relevant health data is digitally summarised in the electronic patient file (ePA for short). The ePA is a lifelong, digital folder in which all important information on a patient's state of health and medical history is stored. This data can be viewed independently by patients themselves at any time and can also be made accessible to the doctors treating them.
The ePA for all is the core element of the Digital Act, which was passed by the German Bundestag on 14 December 2023.
The ePA was launched as planned on 15 January 2025. The health insurance companies have automatically provided all insured persons who have not objected with an electronic patient file. At the same time, the trial phase of the ePA has begun in the model regions of Hamburg and the surrounding area, Franconia and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. Following successful trials, practices, hospitals and pharmacies will use the ePA nationwide.
What are the advantages of the ePA?
The ePA for all gives medical staff quick access and an improved overview of existing health data. This allows treatments to be individualised and therapies to be adapted directly to the respective needs. In addition, unnecessary duplicate examinations are avoided.
The ePA also strengthens the data sovereignty of insured persons. Patients decide for themselves who has access to which data and for how long. This access is voluntary and can be customised.
The ePA promotes networked healthcare. With the patient's consent, doctors' surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals can access the stored information. This makes it easier to change doctors, prevents duplicate examinations and improves the care of chronically ill people.
The health data is transferred to the ePA in encrypted form and can only be accessed by service providers and not by health insurance companies.
Where do we currently stand? What are the next steps?
Following the completion of the test phase in the model regions, the nationwide rollout of the ePA began on 29 April. Since then, the electronic patient file will gradually be used by all people with statutory health insurance and can be viewed by doctors and pharmacists in day-to-day care. The use of the ePA in the healthcare system will be mandatory from 1 October 2025.
Ulm University Hospital has prepared for the introduction of the electronic patient file on 1 October and ordered the necessary systems. As with many other hospitals, delivery by the manufacturer is currently still delayed. As soon as the technical components are ready, the UKU will immediately integrate the ePA into clinical operations.
ePA explanatory film
The gematik GmbH explanatory film "The new ePA" provides you with a brief summary and overview of the electronic patient file.