General information What is the ePA?
The electronic patient file is something like a digital folder for your health data. This folder is not in your home or in a doctor's surgery, but is securely stored digitally. Important information about your health is collected in this folder. You can find out exactly what is behind it here.
The electronic patient file
With the electronic patient file - ePA for short - you can store and manage your health data digitally.
After treatment, medical documents can be uploaded directly to the ePA - for example laboratory results or doctor's letters.
You can also upload your own documents such as a pain diary or blood sugar values.
Other data can also be saved. For example:
- Vaccination record
- Emergency data
- Medication plan
You alone decide who can see and upload your data.
Doctors or other healthcare professionals only have access if you authorise it.
So you always have an overview
- View data
- Upload data
- Delete data - at any time
Your health insurance company can also upload billing data for you. But they cannot view your ePA.
You don't need a filing cabinet for the ePA - the ePA is available as a secure app on your smartphone.
From September 2025, you will also be able to use the ePA on a stationary end device (e.g. a PC).
No smartphone? No problem!
You can also have your ePA managed in the doctor's surgery - together with your doctor. This is known as "offline use".
All doctors' surgeries, pharmacies and nursing staff have a better overview and can treat you individually and better coordinate your medication, for example.
Important to know:
Since 15 January 2025, your health insurance company will automatically set up an ePA for you.
Its use is voluntary. If you do not want an EPC, you can object.
This will not result in any disadvantages for you.
