eHPC

The eHPC enables legally binding signatures and authentication in the telematics infrastructure.

The electronic Health Professional Card (eHPC) unambiguously identifies the holder as a member of the relevant medical profession and offers secure access to the telematics infrastructure and the electronic health card. With the introduction of the telematics infrastructure (TI), paper-based processes will increasingly make way for digital processes. The eHPC is required in order to create legally secure electronic signatures which are mandatory for certain medical applications (e.g. electronic doctor’s letters, digital lab referrals).

The electronic health professional card (eHPC) will become an essential instrument for staff in the health sector because it provides the following security-relevant functions: 

ID card 

The eHPC is a high-quality ID card in credit-card format that bears a photo of the holder and their signature.

Secure authentication and identification

Doctors, dentists, psychotherapists and pharmacists can use the eHPC as a means of identity in the digital world of the healthcare sector. The card provides access to specially protected areas, such as the TI as well as portals provided by the medical chambers or statutory health insurance associations. eHPC holders can authenticate themselves online with the card.

Electronic signature 

Using the eHPC, holders can generate an electronic signature (qualified electronic signature – QES), for instance, in order to digitally sign an electronic doctor's letter. This signature is legally equivalent to the hand-written signature. 

Medical data encryption

The eHPC can be used to send encrypted medical data that can be decrypted on receipt. In this way, the eHPC allows medical professionals to securely exchange electronic data among each other or with hospitals and health insurance companies. This boosts the level of privacy when personal medical data is transmitted.

Secure access to the electronic health card

The eHPC can be used to access patient data stored on the electronic health card.

Application and delivery

The eHPC for doctors, dentists, psychotherapists and pharmacists is issued by their respective federal state medical chamber.  The application process differs in certain aspects depending on the sector (see FAQs). However, the health professional card is generally ordered directly from D‑TRUST.

Order your health professional card now via the D‑TRUST Application Portal.

In addition to the electronic health professional card, the remotely triggered qualified signature with sign-me can be used to sign electronic documents in the healthcare sector, e.g. electronic doctor’s letters, digital sick notes or ePrescriptions. No matter where, the signature can be conveniently used via the web browser, irrespective of hardware or software. There are also plans to integrate this into customary IT systems in medical practices. sign‑me also works outside the Telematics Infrastructure using secure two-factor authentication (with SMS-TAN or biometric), it complies with the eIDAS Regulation and can therefore be used throughout the EU in a manner recognised by law. The application process is simple and possible without any additional identification if consent to this is granted when ordering the eHPC.

In order to spare you double trips, when you order the eHPC, you can consent to D‑TRUST also using the identification carried out for the eHPC to create a qualified certificate for the sign‑me remote signature. All you need to do in this case is to tick the box entitled ‘Consent to use identification ....’ in D‑TRUST’s Application Portal. There are no extra costs or obligations involved.

For more information about the online signature, go to our sign-me product page.