Slovenian eHealth (eZdravje)
The eHealth project (2008–2015) introduced eHealth services at a national level. Since then considerable progress has been made in terms of development, deployment, availability and use. Today, Slovenian eHealth services provide secure and traceable real-time exchange of data and electronic documentation between all healthcare providers. Access to patient electronic health records is enabled for all healthcare professionals involved in medical treatment at any healthcare institution in Slovenia, regardless of time and location. Patients have access to their data via the patient portal and mobile application.
Slovenian eHealth services have connected the numerous and fragmented hospital and outpatient information systems, enabled interoperability of diverse local applications and enforced common digital health information standards. Accordingly, eHealth enables citizens and health professionals to access relevant and accurate information, enhances quality of medical treatment, provides long-term reduction of administrative costs and paves the way towards future digital transformation of Slovenian healthcare.
Slovenian eHealth solutions at a glance
Central Registry of Patient Data (CRPD)
The CRPD is the core system of Slovenian eHealth, designed for exchanging and sharing electronic health records on a national level. All Slovenian healthcare providers are obliged to duly submit medical records to the CRPD and are entitled to use them for the purpose of healthcare treatment. Patients have access to their CRPD data via the zVEM patient portal and mobile application. The content of the CRPD comprises various types of healthcare documentation and structured Patient Summary records. In addition to the data provided as part of healthcare treatment, patient statements, such as advance directives and privacy consents, are stored in the CRPD.
zVEM Portal
The zVEM portal is a “one-stop shop” portal for patients. Digital identity is used for identification and authentication of patients. Patients have access to the data that is stored on them in the eHealth databases. The zVEM portal provides patients with full access to their healthcare documentation, referrals, appointments, prescriptions, dispensations and digital Covid certificates.
ePrescription
ePrescription is designed to support electronic prescribing and dispensing of medications. It also provides access to drug interaction databases for doctors and pharmacists.
eAppointment and eReferral
The eAppointment system enables referral documents (eReferrals) to be processed and appointments booked. An online waiting list is available for over 1700 healthcare services. Patients can book appointments via the zVEM portal.
Teleradiology
The national Teleradiology portal enables sharing of medical images and imaging reports.
zVEMplus portal for healthcare professionals
This web portal for healthcare professionals was launched in 2021 and comprises applications for recording COVID test results, managing vaccination appointments and issuing COVID certificates.
Electronic immunization registry
The electronic immunization registry is a national vaccination database that enables planning and surveillance of vaccination status for the entire Slovenian population. Adverse reactions are recorded, along with details of the vaccinations themselves. Population vaccination data by disease, age group and geographical area is also included. The registry is linked to the CRPD so that the Patient Summary is promptly updated with data on patient vaccinations and adverse reaction histories.
TeleStroke
TeleStroke is used for remote examination of stroke patients in order to ensure optimal early interventions and treatment. A physician can examine a patient using a special video camera that can be manipulated remotely using a computer, a tablet or a smart phone. It is used by emergency centres and tertiary healthcare providers.
Family medicine model practices
eHealth system for family medicine model practices supports protocols for the treatment of chronic patients, extended and regular preventive screenings, establishment of registers of chronic patients, and the assessment of treatment quality by means of quality indicators. The family medicine model practice is a standard general practitioner’s office with an expanded medical team.
eHealth users database (EUEZ)
The eHealth users database is the central entity of trust for eHealth solutions. EUEZ authenticates, authorises and manages eHealth users, and stores their eIDs. Patients and healthcare professionals are registered by means of digital certificates. The eHealth users database is linked to the national registry of healthcare providers and professionals. User roles are derived from professional qualifications and working positions at the respective healthcare institution.
Secure healthcare network zNET and ICT infrastructure
eHealth applications are based on a robust, comprehensive and secure ICT infrastructure. The healthcare network (zNET) provides a secure environment for core eHealth features and enables safe and reliable communication among all healthcare providers. Geo-redundancy is supported by two data centres. A 24/7 security operations centre (SoC) is established for continuous monitoring and protection against cybersecurity threats.