Cologne, Germany, February 17, 2009 – The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the regional Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVs) are to link up via a supra-organisational network. The new data-sharing network speeds up information exchange between the KVs and also serves, among other things, as a technical basis for a billing system which is supported online. This is because as of 1 January 2010 the electronic process will be mandatory and replace the use of paper invoices which has been customary for the KVs and their 130,000 SHI physicians to date. The network will be set up and managed by Pironet NDH.

The outsourcing specialist offers a wide range of ITC services and operates state-of-the-art network and computer centre infrastructures in Germany. Within this structure Pironet NDH also encrypts the transferred data, for example to protect sensitive medical information. The network will function in accordance with the joint safety standard KV-SafeNet of the regional Associations of SHI Physicians.

Electronic cooperation between doctors
With this project the KBV will for the first time create a uniform ITC infrastructure which will permit unhindered data exchange between all KVs. This is designed to enable office-based doctors and medical facilities to use not only electronic billing but also further online services of the KVs throughout Germany.

Utilising developments together
The KVs will also profit from the universal data exchange. The joint platform will enable them to make their in-house developments available to each other. “This will allow us to save on development costs and promote the standardisation of medical online services,” explains Stefan Holtkamp, project manager for the KBV network at the National Association of SHI Physicians.

Until now each KV has maintained an isolated network for its members. “Inter-organisational communication between the KVs was therefore previously hardly possible,” adds Mr Holtkamp. Problems could also arise within a single area of responsibility, if members obtained their network connection from different providers. “Nevertheless, more and more doctors are asking about secure access to the digital services which will be available. That’s why we now require a universal solution,” emphasises Mr Holtkamp.

KV-SafeNet
Connections in accordance with the KV-SafeNet standard offer doctors’ practices, medical facilities and hospitals the guarantee that they will comply with the statutory security regulations for accessing online services. Only certified providers such as Pironet NDH may offer such connections. Via their KV-SafeNet port doctor’s surgeries will, for example, be able to bill their services with their KV electronically instead of storing the data on diskette in encrypted form and sending it by post, as is currently the case. Consequently the participants will reduce their administrative effort and postage costs. In addition, doctors will be able to access applications such as electronic DMP documentation via the KV network in order to treat patients who are chronically ill.

PIRONET NDH AG offers the market a unique portfolio of solutions for handling digital content and data. This includes consultancy, software, integration and outsourcing services. PIRONET NDH AG is a corporate group that brings together three companies specializing in the different business areas ICT outsourcing, consulting and design as well as content management solutions. PIRONET NDH AG was founded in 1995 and is based in Cologne. Since 2000, it has been listed on the German stock exchange. The Group of companies employs more than 350 people and posted sales figures of around 55 million euros in the last financial year (2010).

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