Electronic Patient Records Gain Traction in Germany

As of April 29 of this year, the Electronic Patient Record (EPA) has been rolled out nationwide in Germany, becoming increasingly available in medical practices, dental offices, pharmacies, and hospitals. Currently, according to Gematik, nearly 46,000 of the 160,000 medical facilities are utilizing electronic records.

The TI Dashboard from the Digital Agency indicates a steady rise in the usage of the EPA. Since the nationwide introduction of the EPA, there have been peak access rates of approximately six million daily interactions with patient records in medical facilities. Over the last three weeks alone, around 50 million patient records were accessed, with about 600,000 documents uploaded to patient files in just the last week.

The adoption of the integrated electronic medication list within the EPA is also on the rise, with daily access to approximately 1.5 million medication lists reported as of May 22, 2025.

Florian Fuhrmann, the Chairman of Gematik's Management, noted that these figures clearly illustrate the increasing utilization of the EPA across Germany. He emphasized that the EPA is on track to become a fundamental component of the country's healthcare system, marking a significant milestone. The medication list feature has already convinced numerous practices of its value, demonstrating how digitalization can noticeably benefit daily operations in healthcare.

According to Gematik, the electronic patient record aims to facilitate interdisciplinary, institutional, and cross-sectoral care. It is designed to help reduce duplicate examinations and enhance both patient interviews and treatment processes. The medication list is already being recognized as a tangible advantage for healthcare delivery, providing patients with a clearer overview of their medications.