As most of you know, Austria is always kind of slow with optimizing processes and digitizing traditional burocratic systems. In this blog post I would like to sum up the technology / touchpoints with the main digital health systems you might have come across.
As I’m insured at SVS my experience might differ to yours. My plan is to analyze the differences there are between the different insurances.
Meine SV
A digital service platform in Austria that serves as a personal online portal for citizens to manage their social security and health insurance matters efficiently. Launched to simplify access to important services and information, MeineSV allows users to handle various administrative tasks related to their social security in a user-friendly manner.
Key features of MeineSV include:
- Personalized Access: Users can log in to the platform using their secure electronic identification (e-ID), providing a personalized experience tailored to their individual social security needs.
- Comprehensive Services: Through MeineSV, users can access a range of services, such as checking their insurance status, viewing payroll information, and managing health insurance details. This centralization streamlines the process of handling social security matters.
- Online Applications: The platform enables users to submit applications for various social security benefits, including pensions, unemployment benefits, and family allowances, all through an online interface.
- Document Management: MeineSV allows users to upload and manage relevant documents, facilitating easier communication with social security authorities and reducing the need for physical paperwork.
- Information Access: The platform provides users with access to vital information regarding their rights and obligations under the social security system, helping them stay informed about changes and updates.
App
The MeineSV App offers an App for easier access on-the-go.
Elga
ELGA, or the “Elektronische Gesundheitsakte,” is Austria’s electronic health record system designed to improve the management and accessibility of patient health information.
Key features of ELGA include:
- Centralized Health Records: ELGA allows for the storage and sharing of patient health data, including medical history, medications, allergies, and treatment plans, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to up-to-date information.
- Vaccination documentation: A digital overview of vaccinations.
- Patient Control: Patients have the ability to manage their own health records, granting or revoking access to healthcare professionals as needed. This empowers individuals to take an active role in their healthcare.
- Interoperability: The system is designed to ensure that different healthcare providers can easily share information, improving coordination of care and reducing duplication of tests and procedures.
- Enhanced Continuity of Care: By providing healthcare professionals with immediate access to a patient’s medical history, ELGA supports better decision-making and continuity of care, especially during emergencies.
- Data Security and Privacy: ELGA places a strong emphasis on protecting patient data, implementing strict security measures to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of health information.
Currently there is no mobile application of Elga.
What is missing?
Both online portals have significant benefits that should be combined into one system in my opinion. One significant feature that is missing is that there is no possibility of contacting the healthcare professional directly via the platform. Also there is no possibility of setting reminders for future checkups or vaccinations which I would find extremely helpful.
Next Steps
For my next post I would like to create a small informal questionnaire (as mentioned in my first post) and also find out if anybody uses the two mentioned platforms and what they like/ dislike about them.
