Revolutionary changes to doctors’ registration. Central electronic registration starts on August 24 [ZASADY]

Starting August 24, 2024, patients will gain new opportunities registration for doctors Thanks central electronic registry. This system aims to streamline the registration process, reduce waiting times and enable remote management of visits. The introduction of the pilot is the first step towards mandatory electronic registration, which will eventually cover all medical facilities in Poland. What are the rules for electronic registration?

Central electronic registry for doctors from 24 August 2024

On August 24, 2024, the Minister of Health’s ordinance regarding the launch comes into force central electronic registry for selected medical services. It was published on August 9 in the Law Review. This solution aims to streamline the registration process for specialists and examinations, as well as reduce waiting times for appointments. The pilot will cover only a few selected medical services.

What services does the Central Electronic Registry pilot include?

As part of the pilot central electronic registrythat will last from August 24, 2024 to October 31, 2025Patients will be able to use a new method of scheduling medical appointments for the following services:

• visits to a cardiologist;
• preventive examinations within the scope of the cervical cancer prevention program (mammography and cytology);
• preventive exams as part of the breast cancer prevention program.

The pilot will be carried out in two phases: preparation and implementation, and then evaluation.

Objectives of the electronic central record. How will patients benefit from the changes?

The Ministry of Health has set several main objectives for the new system electronic recordwhich are ultimately intended to improve access to medical services:

• the patient’s ability to independently search for available dates;
• maintaining a central queue for selected services;
• possibility of preparing central reports and their subsequent modification;
• provision of admission times to the e-Health Center by units;
• possibility of canceling the visit or changing its date;
• availability of registrations at any facility participating in the pilot.

Thanks to these features patients They will be able to manage their appointments remotely, which will increase flexibility and convenience in using healthcare.

Central electronic registry 2024. How to register for a consultation? Paths

Patients will have several ways to schedule a medical appointment or examination covered by the pilot program. These possibilities include:

• reports via Online Patient Account (IKP);
• direct registration with the pilot program implementer – in person, by telephone or through electronic means of communication;
• reporting in any medical pointif the doctor offers this option.

The same methods will also be available when changing the date of an appointment or canceling it. It is important that telephone and in-person appointments are made during agency opening hours.

Central electronic registration 2024. How to choose an appointment?

As the ministry guarantees, the system electronic record allows patients to tailor their visit to their needs. When making a report, the patient or third party can specify preferences such as:

• date of visit;
• selection of the installation that implements the program;
• territorial scope – voivodeship, city, distance from the location;
• selection of a specific medical employee (if the system allows);
• form of service provision – in person or remotely;
• priority in the queue if the patient has the right to use the services outside of office hours.

Thanks to that patients they will be able to narrow down the list of doctors and facilities to those that specifically meet their needs and choose the best option among them.

Central electronic registry: ultimately mandatory

Although central electronic registry starts as a pilot, Ministry of Health plans to make this happen from mid-2025 mandatory for all medical facilities.

The pilot will start with cardiology and prevention of breast and cervical cancer. The project budget is PLN 56 million and will be used for training and infrastructure development. Although the previous pilot failed, this time the Ministry expects better results thanks to the advanced preparatory phase.

The previous e-registration pilot, carried out under the direction of Adam Niedzielski (from June 2022 to March 2023), ended in failure. Of the 66 registered units, 29 qualified, but 18 of them immediately withdrew from the programme due to difficulties in adapting to their needs.