XpanDH project‘s 2nd webinar on 28 June 2023 titled ‘Unlocking the Benefits: Real-World Applications of the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format’ covered achievements of the eHealth Network around EEHRxF with positive results from the Netherlands, the role of patients and their needs in adopted the EEHRxF and industry views on interoperability.
If you missed out on this event check out the latest webinar recording and a written summary of highlights from our speakers including:
- Moderator Dr Alexander Berler from Gnomon Informatics SA
- Esther Peelen, Senior International Adviser, Nictiz, Competence Centre for digital information management in Healthcare in the Netherlands
- Kathi Apostolidis, Past President – Chair Scientific Committee, European Cancer Patient Coalition
- Michael Strubin, Senior Adviser for Digital Health, DIGITALEUROPE – The voice of digitally transforming industries.
What is EEHRxF?
- A set of principles that should govern access to and exchange of Electronic Health Records across borders in the Union.
- A process to take forward the further elaboration of a European Εlectronic Health Record Exchange Format.
Legislation on digital information exchange in healthcare:
In a significant development, a proposed legislation that was passed in the Netherlands Chamber on September 22 and later approved by Parliament in April 23 has officially come into force starting from July 1, 2023. This legislation marks a substantial step towards revolutionizing the healthcare sector. With a step-based implementation approach planned over the course of several years (2023-2028), the focus will be on prioritized domains critical to patient care. These include patient summary data, nursing discharge reports, medical imaging, medication processes such as prescription and dispensation, medication overviews, lab results for medication, adverse event monitoring, emergency care procedures, and the certification of electronic health record (EHR) systems. This legislation aims to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare services while ensuring the secure management of patient information. More information on Wegiz can be found here.
Key benefits of EEHRxF:
The European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) offers a multitude of key benefits that significantly improve healthcare delivery. By providing accurate and up-to-date patient information, EEHRxF ensures that healthcare professionals have a comprehensive view of a patient’s medical history at the point of care. The framework enhances privacy and security, ensuring the secure management of patient data from unauthorised access and breaches.
It enables safer and more reliable prescribing by offering access to medication histories and potential drug interactions. EEHRxF also enables quick and coordinated access to patient records, fostering efficient care and improving patient-provider interaction and communication. The format promotes legible and complete documentation, accurate coding, and streamlined billing processes. With secure electronic information-sharing capabilities, EEHRxF facilitates collaboration among clinicians and empowers patients. Ultimately, the framework helps providers in diagnosing patients effectively, reducing medical errors, and delivering safer care.
What’s needed to drive interoperability:
To drive interoperability in the healthcare industry, several key elements are needed. Firstly, there is a requirement for clear and consistent signals from the market to encourage stakeholders to prioritise interoperability. This involves creating incentives that motivate makers of digital health products and services to invest in interoperable solutions. Additionally, the development of robust and stable common specifications is crucial for ensuring seamless data exchange across different systems. These specifications serve as a foundation for interoperability standards and facilitate effective communication between various healthcare technologies. Finally, the implementation of testing mechanisms and conformity assessments is necessary to validate and ensure the compatibility of interoperable solutions.
Overall, the webinar provided valuable insights into the impact, benefits, challenges, and patient empowerment aspects of EEHRxF. You can also find a copy of the presentation slide here
