Information and Discussion Session on the Electronic Patient Record (ePA)
On January 15, 2025, the new electronic health record (ePA) was launched in Germany. This marked another step toward a more digitized healthcare system. Health data can now be stored and processed more easily; for example, the exchange of medical documents between doctors’ offices, pharmacies, hospitals, and patients is facilitated because records are available digitally and do not have to be requested first. However, the introduction of the ePA is not only associated with benefits and conveniences, but also with challenges, unanswered questions, and concerns—for example, regarding data protection.
In cooperation with the Digital Specialist and Health Center (DFGZ) at the“Spieren & Kollegen” medical practice in Olpe (https://spieren.de/dfgz/), the Chair of“Business Information Systems, with a Focus on IT for an Aging Society” therefore held an information and discussion event on January 8, 2025, simultaneously in Olpe and Siegen. The “Spieren & Kollegen” medical practice had invited its patients to Olpe, where experts from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVWL) and representatives from health insurance companies gave presentations and answered questions. This was broadcast live to the University of Siegen, where interested researchers, students, and members of the public had gathered to join the discussion online.
A second part of the event followed in Siegen. Digitalization expert and state parliament member Julia Eisentraut (Alliance 90/The Greens,https://julia-eisentraut.de/) was on hand to present and discuss political perspectives on the topic. Bernd Mäckeler from the “Grüne Alten” (Green Seniors) in Siegen was also involved in preparing the event; together with his colleagues from the “Grüne Alten” and with support from the chair, he is actively committed to promoting the digital literacy of older adults in Siegen and the surrounding area.
The following entities from the Chair were involved in organizing and conducting the event: subproject A05, “Cooperative Creation of User Autonomy in the Context of an Aging Society,” part of the Collaborative Research Center“Media of Cooperation,” represented by Dennis Kirschsieper, and the subprojects “Health & Aging” and “Social Issues & Inclusion” of the FUSION project, represented by Stephan Krayter. Further collaborative events on the digitization of the healthcare system are planned for the future to involve citizens in research and to work together to improve medical and social care in the region.
