The Electronic Health Record (e-Health Record) is a nationwide system integrating data from Estonia’s different healthcare providers to create a common record every patient can access online.

Functioning very much like a centralized, national database, the e-Health Record actually retrieves data as necessary from various providers, who may be using different systems, and presents it in a standard format via the e-Patient portal (link). A powerful tool for doctors that allows them to access a patient’s records easily from a single electronic file, doctors can read test results as they are entered, including image files such as X-rays even from remote hospitals.

For assuring the integrity of retrieved electronic medical records as well as system access logs, blockchain technology is used.

For example, in an emergency situation, a doctor can use a patient’s ID code to read time-critical information, such as blood type, allergies, recent treatments, on-going medication or pregnancy. The system also compiles data for national statistics, so the ministry can measure health trends, track epidemics, and make sure that its health resources are being spent wisely.

Patients have access to their own records, as well as those of their children. By logging into the e-Patient portal with an electronic ID-card, the patient can review doctor visits and current prescriptions, and check which doctors have had access to their files.

Visit the Estonian e-Health Records here.