Is it necessary to offer electronic patient records (EPR)?

The introduction of electronic patient records (EPR) in Switzerland has raised a number of questions. In particular: which healthcare professionals should offer it? In this article, we answer this question and give you an overview of the introduction of the EPR.

Is an EPR mandatory for my practice?

Under the Législation Dossier électronique du patient (LDEP), it is mandatory for all medical and professional establishments that store patient data and bill at the expense of compulsory health insurance (AOS) to offer an EPR. This includes but is not limited to:

• Hospitals
• Medical practices
• Doctors

Do I already need to offer EPR?

The law governing the introduction of the EPR is the Législation Dossier électronique du patient (LDEP)and came into effect on April 15, 2017. However, the deadline for healthcare professionals varies.

• Hospitals had to offer an EPR by April 15, 2020
• Medical practices, pharmacies and nursing homes had until December 31, 2020 to offer an EPR
• If you are a doctor established after 2022, you must offer the EPR

Since the beginning of 2022, there have been a few changes for doctors and medical establishments covered by compulsory health insurance. If they wish to obtain a new authorization, they must now prove that they are part of a DEP community. This also applies to doctors wishing to open a new practice in another canton, as well as to establishments relocating or being newly created in another canton.

However, not everyone is affected. If you already had an authorization before 2022 and were not planning to change location, you don’t need to change anything. The same applies to establishments providing abulatory medical care whose location remains unchanged, even if the owner changes. Finally, if you join a facility that is already licensed, you are also exempt.

Is the EPR a good thing for me?

You may not yet be required to offer electronic patient records. However, if you fall into one of the following categories, we recommend that you consider adopting it:

• Doctors (before 2022)
• Nurses
• Pharmacists

Physicians are most concerned by the EPR, as they are usually responsible for the treatment of their patients. Nursing professionals also have access to the EPR, as they often work closely with doctors and can provide important information for patient treatment. If you offer the EPR as a pharmacist, you make life easier for your patients, and waste less time on administrative exchanges to compile a complete file. In addition, it should soon be possible to manage e-prescriptions directly in the EPR. Other healthcare professionals, such as therapists or laboratory technicians, generally have limited access to the EPR but can use it nevertheless.

Tips for offering the EPR to your patients

Swiss patients can join the EPR on a voluntary basis, and can decide for themselves whether or not they wish to create an EPR. Here are a few tips to help you set up an account and ensure data security for your patients.

Use the mTAN procedure (2-factor authentication by SMS).

The electronic patient record (EPR) needs to be safe in terms of data security. Offering two-factor authentication provides enhanced security for your patient’s data. Your patients will receive a one-time valid Transaction Number (TAN) on their mobile device, which they will use to log in to their EPR.

This provides additional security since, in addition to the password, potential hackers need access to their victim’s phone.
And that’s not all: other methods, such as SwissID, can also be used to connect to the EPR. This gives your patients additional flexibility and choice when it comes to securing access. We advise you to focus on the protection of sensitive health information and easy, intuitive access to the EPR.

Who is affected by the forthcoming DEP developments?

The Federal Council has already announced its intention to continue promoting the EPR. To this end, the Législation Dossier électronique du patient (LDEP) will undergo a complete overhaul over the next few years. Among the changes announced will be the requirement for all healthcare professionals working in the in the ambulatory sector to have an EPR. In any case, whether you are concerned or not, creating an EPD can be a good step to start digitizing your medical activity!

In order to promote the EPR among patients, a EPR will be opened automatically and free of charge for all persons living in Switzerland and covered by compulsory health insurance (AOS) or military insurance. Patients will be able to refuse the creation of their EPR.