Why the EPR Stalls in Switzerland

As a healthcare professional, you’ve probably heard about the electronic patient record (EPR). However, despite its potential benefits, its adoption among patients in Switzerland remains limited.

In this article, discover the critical points about the EPR, why it is struggling to take off, and what solutions can help promote its implementation.

What is the electronic patient record (EPR)?

The EPR is a secure digital file containing personal health information, such as medical reports, test results, and ongoing treatments. It allows medical information to be shared between patients and healthcare professionals.

In fact, you may already be among the healthcare providers who are required to offer the electronic patient record!

How is the EPR being adopted in Switzerland today?

Despite its launch in 2017, adoption of the EPR remains low. According to a study conducted by OneDoc, managed by Farner and MIS Trend, only 16% of surveyed Swiss residents currently have an EPR.

This figure is nonetheless higher than federal statistics, which showed, in August 2024, that 72,000 people had adopted it — suggesting that the EPR has gained in popularity since then.

EPR usage in Switzerland

When it comes to using the EPR, the numbers are not very high either. Among current holders:

Only 21% access their EPR at every medical appointment
44% almost never log in
24% have never logged in at all.

Moreover, a significant part of the population simply isn’t aware of the EPR’s existence. According to our study, around 40% of respondents fall into this category, highlighting a lack of awareness and engagement with this digital tool.

Why do the Swiss (do not) adopt the EPR?

Main motivations among current holders

Among patients who have adopted the EPR, the key motivations include the centralisation of their health information and permanent access to their medical data.

➡️ Around 40% of holders opened an EPR after being encouraged by a healthcare professional.

The benefits of the EPR aren’t limited to patients. As a healthcare provider, offering the EPR can help you reduce administrative tasks and simplify data exchanges with your colleagues.

Why are so many Swiss residents still unaware of the EPR?

The lack of awareness is a major factor: while about 40% of holders opened an EPR on the advice of a healthcare provider, 30% did not because their doctor did not encourage them to do so.

As healthcare professionals, you are the key point of reference for your patients when it comes to the EPR, and you can have a significant impact on its uptake.

Moreover, as mentioned, 40% of surveyed patients simply hadn’t heard about it. This lack of knowledge is a major barrier to adoption and limits the EPR’s potential benefits for the healthcare system.

Major barriers to EPR adoption

Several obstacles are slowing the adoption of the EPR:

Concerns about data security: just over 10% of respondents expressed worries about the protection of their personal data. However, the EPR is safe in terms of data security.
Lack of encouragement from healthcare professionals: 30% of patients said their doctor did not recommend using the EPR.
Perceived limited usefulness: 10% of patients said they didn’t see the point of using the EPR.

How can you encourage your patients to adopt the EPR?

As we have seen, you play a crucial role in promoting the EPR.

If you want to encourage its use, you can:

Inform your patients: explain the benefits of the EPR, such as centralising health information and improving care coordination and the patient journey.
Actively encourage its use: suggest that your patients open an EPR by guiding them through the process or referring them to official resources like patientrecord.ch.
Reassure them about data security: highlight the robust security measures in place to protect personal information.
Integrate the EPR into your practice: use the EPR to share relevant documents with your patients, which will help reinforce its perceived value.

Essentially, the usefulness of the EPR strongly depends on its active use by both patients and healthcare professionals. If you believe in the tool, it’s essential that you actively raise awareness among your patients about the benefits of digital health tools and guide them through the adoption process.

By doing so, you will contribute to improving access to healthcare, the quality of medical follow-up, and the overall patient experience within Switzerland’s healthcare system.

Study methodology

This survey was conducted online by OneDoc, Farner, and MIS Trend in March 2025, among a representative sample of 1,124 Swiss residents aged 18 and over (396 in French-speaking Switzerland, 434 in German-speaking Switzerland, and 294 in Ticino). The maximum margin of error is ±2.9% at the national level. Data were weighted to ensure regional and linguistic representativeness.

Discover all the findings from our study in our press release (DE)!