How the E-Prescription works – Smartphone Requirements
It really cannot be said that digitization in Germany has made great strides in recent years. But the train is slowly starting to roll, and now e-prescriptions are also starting in the healthcare system. Pharmacies have been able to redeem e-prescriptions nationwide since September 1, 2022. But of course these are only one element in the chain of those involved. In medical practices in particular, things are often a long way from that.
Not only that the doctor incurs quite high costs to realign the IT in the practice, the functionality also leaves a lot to be desired and suffers from all kinds of teething problems. This can be quite stressful in the hectic everyday practice and hospital life.
And finally, there is also the patient who cannot simply sit back and relax, but has to fulfill a few requirements. In this article we would like to shed light on the most important information on how the e-prescription works and what patients have to consider.
How the E-Prescription works – Smartphone Requirements
It really cannot be said that digitization in Germany has made great strides in recent years. But the train is slowly starting to roll, and now e-prescriptions are also starting in the healthcare system. Pharmacies have been able to redeem e-prescriptions nationwide since September 1, 2022. But of course these are only one element in the chain of those involved. In medical practices in particular, things are often a long way from that.
Not only that the doctor incurs quite high costs to realign the IT in the practice, the functionality also leaves a lot to be desired and suffers from all kinds of teething problems. This can be quite stressful in the hectic everyday practice and hospital life.
And finally, there is also the patient who cannot simply sit back and relax, but has to fulfill a few requirements. In this article we would like to shed light on the most important information on how the e-prescription works and what patients have to consider.
How the E-Prescription works
How the E-Prescription works
The electronic prescription (e-prescription) is a modern and digital system for prescribing and procuring medication. It is a replacement for the traditional paper prescription that doctors issue to patients. The e-prescription is created digitally, electronically signed and can be sent to the patient in various ways. It has been mandatory for all doctors in Germany since January 1, 2022.
The e-prescription is created using special software that meets the legal requirements. The doctor must register and identify himself with an approved institution or a provider of e-prescription systems. The software enables the doctor to integrate the e-prescription directly into the system so that all relevant information is automatically transferred. This information includes the patient’s name, the medication prescribed, the dosage and any other notes or instructions from the doctor.
The e-prescription can be transmitted to the patient in various ways. One possibility is digital transmission via e-mail. The patient receives the e-prescription as a PDF file attached to the e-mail. Another option is to use apps that are integrated into the healthcare system. The patient receives the e-prescription directly in the app and can save it there or print it out.
Once the patient has received the e-prescription, they can redeem it at the pharmacy of their choice. The pharmacist can call up the e-prescription electronically and dispense the prescribed medication. This also automatically checks whether the e-prescription is valid and whether it is an original prescription. The e-prescription can only be redeemed once and is only valid for the specified period.
The e-prescription is advertised with many advantages over the traditional paper prescription:
- It is more secure as it prevents counterfeiting and the transmission of data is encrypted.
- It is faster as the doctor can create and submit the e-prescription directly without having to physically print it out and hand it over.
- It is also more practical because the patient can save the e-prescription digitally and retrieve it at any time. The introduction of the e-prescription is intended
- to improve efficiency in the healthcare system and optimize patient care.
As far as the advantages with which the e-prescription is advertised. But these benefits can also be reversed:
- Claimed to be safer. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nothing is as easily forged and hacked as digital data.
- It’s faster as long as it works. However, if the technology fails somewhere in the chain between the doctor and the drug dispenser in the pharmacy, things can get tight.
- The possibility of digital storage for the patient is of course practical, but it also requires the patient to take more personal responsibility for digital security and data protection. I doubt whether people are really sufficiently sensitized to this across the board.
- Furthermore, one must not lose sight of older patients in particular, some of whom find it difficult to use e-mail and smartphones. There must be an alternative solution here.
The electronic prescription (e-prescription) is a modern and digital system for prescribing and procuring medication. It is a replacement for the traditional paper prescription that doctors issue to patients. The e-prescription is created digitally, electronically signed and can be sent to the patient in various ways. It has been mandatory for all doctors in Germany since January 1, 2022.
The e-prescription is created using special software that meets the legal requirements. The doctor must register and identify himself with an approved institution or a provider of e-prescription systems. The software enables the doctor to integrate the e-prescription directly into the system so that all relevant information is automatically transferred. This information includes the patient’s name, the medication prescribed, the dosage and any other notes or instructions from the doctor.
The e-prescription can be transmitted to the patient in various ways. One possibility is digital transmission via e-mail. The patient receives the e-prescription as a PDF file attached to the e-mail. Another option is to use apps that are integrated into the healthcare system. The patient receives the e-prescription directly in the app and can save it there or print it out.
Once the patient has received the e-prescription, they can redeem it at the pharmacy of their choice. The pharmacist can call up the e-prescription electronically and dispense the prescribed medication. This also automatically checks whether the e-prescription is valid and whether it is an original prescription. The e-prescription can only be redeemed once and is only valid for the specified period.
The e-prescription is advertised with many advantages over the traditional paper prescription:
- It is more secure as it prevents counterfeiting and the transmission of data is encrypted.
- It is faster as the doctor can create and submit the e-prescription directly without having to physically print it out and hand it over.
- It is also more practical because the patient can save the e-prescription digitally and retrieve it at any time. The introduction of the e-prescription is intended
- to improve efficiency in the healthcare system and optimize patient care.
As far as the advantages with which the e-prescription is advertised. But these benefits can also be reversed:
- Claimed to be safer. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nothing is as easily forged and hacked as digital data.
- It’s faster as long as it works. However, if the technology fails somewhere in the chain between the doctor and the drug dispenser in the pharmacy, things can get tight.
- The possibility of digital storage for the patient is of course practical, but it also requires the patient to take more personal responsibility for digital security and data protection. I doubt whether people are really sufficiently sensitized to this across the board.
- Furthermore, one must not lose sight of older patients in particular, some of whom find it difficult to use e-mail and smartphones. There must be an alternative solution here.
What does the patient need for the e-prescription
What does the patient need for the e-prescription
If digitization in healthcare is to progress, the patient must of course also meet a few requirements so that it can work:
- An electronic health card (eGK): The eGK is a card on which the patient’s personal medical data is stored. It is a prerequisite for using the e-prescription, as it serves as an identifier for the patient.
- Access to a digital device: The patient needs a digital device such as a computer, smartphone or tablet to receive and save the e-prescription.
- A secure connection to the internet: The patient needs a secure internet connection to be able to download and save the e-prescription. It is recommended to use an encrypted connection to ensure data security. Being in an open WiFi hotspot while using it is not advisable!
- Knowledge of how to use digital devices: The patient should have basic knowledge of how to use digital devices in order to be able to receive and save the e-prescription. If this is not the case, the patient can also ask relatives or friends for help or contact an advice center.
It is important to note that the e-prescription is not yet widely available and not all doctors and pharmacies are already using the system. The patient should therefore ask their doctor or pharmacy in advance whether the e-prescription is already available and whether they can use it.
In order to be able to use the e-prescription on your Smartphone, there are a few requirements that must be met:
- An e-prescription app: The smartphone requires an e-prescription app that has been approved by a certified body such as gematik (society for telematic applications of the health card).
- Current operating system: The smartphone must have a current operating system that meets the requirements of the e-prescription app. As a rule, these are the current versions of iOS or Android. Minimum iOS 14 or Android 7 operating system.
- Internet connection: An active Internet connection is required to receive the e-prescription and to be able to present it to the pharmacy.
- NFC functionality: Some e-prescription apps also require the smartphone’s NFC functionality to transfer the e-prescription directly to the reader in the pharmacy.
- Security: The e-prescription app must meet security requirements to ensure the protection of the user’s personal health information.
It’s important to note that the exact requirements may vary by e-prescription app and provider. It is advisable to find out about the exact requirements in advance from the respective e-prescription app.
If digitization in healthcare is to progress, the patient must of course also meet a few requirements so that it can work:
- An electronic health card (eGK): The eGK is a card on which the patient’s personal medical data is stored. It is a prerequisite for using the e-prescription, as it serves as an identifier for the patient.
- Access to a digital device: The patient needs a digital device such as a computer, smartphone or tablet to receive and save the e-prescription.
- A secure connection to the internet: The patient needs a secure internet connection to be able to download and save the e-prescription. It is recommended to use an encrypted connection to ensure data security. Being in an open WiFi hotspot while using it is not advisable!
- Knowledge of how to use digital devices: The patient should have basic knowledge of how to use digital devices in order to be able to receive and save the e-prescription. If this is not the case, the patient can also ask relatives or friends for help or contact an advice center.
It is important to note that the e-prescription is not yet widely available and not all doctors and pharmacies are already using the system. The patient should therefore ask their doctor or pharmacy in advance whether the e-prescription is already available and whether they can use it.
In order to be able to use the e-prescription on your Smartphone, there are a few requirements that must be met:
- An e-prescription app: The smartphone requires an e-prescription app that has been approved by a certified body such as gematik (society for telematic applications of the health card).
- Current operating system: The smartphone must have a current operating system that meets the requirements of the e-prescription app. As a rule, these are the current versions of iOS or Android. Minimum iOS 14 or Android 7 operating system.
- Internet connection: An active Internet connection is required to receive the e-prescription and to be able to present it to the pharmacy.
- NFC functionality: Some e-prescription apps also require the smartphone’s NFC functionality to transfer the e-prescription directly to the reader in the pharmacy.
- Security: The e-prescription app must meet security requirements to ensure the protection of the user’s personal health information.
It’s important to note that the exact requirements may vary by e-prescription app and provider. It is advisable to find out about the exact requirements in advance from the respective e-prescription app.
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