Digital transformation in healthcare - the impact of Card-Link, digital patient files and e-prescriptions on software solutions and testing
The digital transformation in the healthcare sector is in full swing. The introduction of the digital patient file (ePA) and e-prescription not only makes everyday processes more efficient, but also significantly improves communication between various stakeholders such as doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and patients. The new technologies offer numerous benefits, from improved patient care to greater transparency for everyone involved.
However, these digital innovations also raise new questions - especially when it comes to software solutions in the healthcare sector. The development, implementation and quality assurance of eHealth applications must meet specific requirements: Integration of complex systems, data protection, user-friendliness and efficient quality assurance. QA strategies and software testing must also be adapted to take account of the new requirements in the e-health sector.
What the new requirements in the healthcare sector are changing in QA
Usability testing in the healthcare sector: A key to optimizing eHealth solutions
Functional, manual testing for the e-health sector
Efficiency and precision for digital healthcare solutions through test automation
What the new requirements in the healthcare sector are changing in QA
The introduction of ePA and e-prescriptions places high demands on modern software solutions in the healthcare sector. The following points are particularly relevant for digital quality assurance and software testing:
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Integration and interoperability |
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Data security and data protection The handling of sensitive healthcare data is subject to strict regulatory requirements, such as the GDPR, which guarantees data protection for all personal data, including healthcare data, and the E-Health Act, which specifically regulates the digital transformation in the healthcare sector. Software solutions must therefore not only offer encrypted data transfers, secure authentication and sophisticated access controls, but also meet the specific requirements of both regulations. Security testing and adherence to compliance standards are therefore essential components of quality assurance in order to meet both data security and legal requirements. |
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User friendliness As different user groups such as patients, doctors, pharmacy staff and possibly also nursing staff access the software, usability must be guaranteed in order to enable efficient and error-free use. The accessible design of the software is particularly important in order to appeal to all user groups - including older people, people with disabilities or low technical affinity - and to increase acceptance. A clear, intuitive user interface, simple navigation and well-structured presentation of information are crucial. Usability testing and accessibility testing (A11Y) play a central role here to ensure that the software is both functional and accessible for people with visual, motor or cognitive impairments. In addition, regular usability tests must be carried out with different target groups in order to continuously identify weaknesses and optimize the user experience. |
The OPT-OUT procedure will also play a role. This is a process in which users actively have the option of excluding themselves from certain data collection or use instead of having to actively give their consent (OPT-IN). In the context of healthcare, this means that patients are generally integrated into a system such as the electronic patient record (EPR) or e-prescription, but have the option of actively opting out. The process promotes a high participation rate and accelerates the digital transformation in the healthcare system, as more users are involved from the outset. On the other hand, there are fears of risks to data protection and questions as to whether all users are sufficiently informed and whether intuitive use can be guaranteed. Test procedures should also be integrated here to ensure acceptance and functionality.
Usability testing in the healthcare sector: A key to optimizing eHealth solutions
Two key innovations will affect health insurance apps and the electronic patient record (ePA). While both solutions aim to improve healthcare and facilitate access to medical information, there are significant differences in their use - especially in terms of user experience (UX).
A particularly important aspect of usability testing in this area will be checking the simplification of communication. Digital healthcare solutions must be intuitive and easy to understand for both patients and doctors. The health insurance app, for example, makes it possible to scan the health card, which enables quick and easy verification. This raises the hypothesis that different age groups have different user interface requirements. Older users may have difficulties using the app on mobile devices, while younger users prefer a quick, uncomplicated solution. User research can therefore be used to test how older people interact with the app and where potential barriers arise - such as font size, color contrasts or the complexity of navigation. It is therefore important to carry out user testing on different devices and for different target groups in order to reach a broader user base.
The electronic patient record must also be traceable and accessible to every doctor. Testing the interoperability between different systems and ensuring that all healthcare providers - from general practitioners to specialists - can easily access the digital files is essential. Comprehensive software testing, which also takes into account the needs of different user groups, ensures that these solutions meet the highest standards of security, compliance and user-friendliness.
Automated software testing plays a crucial role here, especially with regard to the requirements for digital quality assurance. Continuous testing is essential to ensure that digital healthcare solutions such as the ePA or e-prescription comply with legal standards while remaining user-friendly. Not only must security gaps and data protection aspects be taken into account, but the user experience on various end devices must also be tested. This includes testing on mobile devices, tablets and desktops to ensure usability across all channels.
The challenges in quality assurance of eHealth solutions are manifold, especially in terms of interoperability and ensuring a high level of usability. A holistic approach to usability testing in healthcare makes it possible to overcome these challenges and develop digital health platforms that are both secure and user-friendly - ultimately for all stakeholders in the healthcare system.
Functional, manual testing for the e-health sector
Functional testing also plays an important role in the quality assurance of eHealth solutions. Especially with more complex applications such as the electronic patient file (ePA) or the health insurance app, it is crucial to realistically simulate various usage scenarios and interactions. Different devices and platforms are often used here. A manual test on a variety of end devices - be it smartphones, tablets or browsers - makes it possible to check the user-friendliness and functionality of the application under realistic conditions.
Especially in the healthcare sector, where users work with different technical understanding and different devices, it is important to ensure that the software works equally well on all devices. Manual testing makes it possible to identify specific problems such as display size, touchscreen reactions or platform-dependent performance problems that could occur when using the application.
In addition, manual testing helps to understand the user experience from the perspective of real users. A distinction must be made between two perspectives. While usability testing involves testing with real users who also have a real context of use (i.e. using health insurance apps, ordering required medication, etc.), manual testing is mainly carried out by power users. These do not necessarily have to have a real context of use, but put themselves in this context. Testers can thus directly point out problems that may not be detected by automated tests, such as usability for people with disabilities or use in different environments - for example with poor reception or with older operating system versions.
The targeted use of many devices and the combination of manual and automated testing ensures that the digital health software remains not only functional, but also user-friendly and accessible for all target groups.
Efficiency and precision for digital health solutions through test automation
Test automation has established itself as an indispensable tool in quality assurance for eHealth applications. Especially in the healthcare sector, where there are strict requirements for security, data protection and compliance, automated software testing can help to efficiently ensure the quality of digital solutions. Automated tests make it possible to check the core functions of an application regularly and in the shortest possible time - from logging in and retrieving health data to checking functions such as the e-prescription or the digital patient file (ePA).
The advantages of test automation are obvious: it enables fast and error-free software testing, saves time and reduces human error. In the continuous development and updating of eHealth apps, such as those found in the context of digital patient records and health insurance solutions, automated tests can help to quickly validate existing functionalities after each change. This is particularly important as any change in the code could potentially have an impact on the entire application, especially in a highly complex, regulated environment such as healthcare. This is particularly relevant for solutions such as the ePA, which needs to be accessible on a wide range of devices. Automated tests can be run on different devices and screen sizes simultaneously, ensuring high coverage without the need for significant manual effort. Once created, tests can be reused across different versions and releases, increasing efficiency and ensuring consistent quality over time.
In addition, automated tests can also be used in the regression test phase to ensure that new features or changes do not affect existing functions. Especially in the dynamic world of digital health solutions, it is crucial to ensure stable software that is continuously adapted to new legal requirements and technological developments.
Overall, test automation offers a perfect complement to manual testing by increasing efficiency while helping to keep the quality and security of digital health solutions at a high level.
The conclusion
The digital transformation in healthcare is a significant development that will revolutionize the way we store, exchange and process healthcare data. However, the success of these digital innovations also significantly affects the quality of the underlying software solutions and therefore digital quality assurance. Only comprehensive software testing and the consideration of all relevant requirements, such as data protection, interoperability and usability, can ensure that the digital patient file and e-prescription unfold their full benefits and lead to better healthcare.
