eHealth: iOS app shows disruptions in the telematics infrastructure

When the e-prescription cannot be accessed or the electronic patient record (ePA) is temporarily not working, it affects not only doctor's offices and pharmacies but also insured individuals. For them, it often remains unclear whether there is a major disruption of the telematics infrastructure (TI) or if the problem is localized. A recently released iOS app aims to provide more transparency.

Native App with SwiftUI

Following the release of “TI-Monitoring.de” – including on GitHub – a native app for iPhone, iPad, and Macs is now also available, which clearly displays the current status of central TI services. The application is based on publicly accessible status data from Gematik and presents it in a mobile-friendly format. The data is automatically updated every 5 minutes.

According to developer Lukas Schmidt-Russnak, the iOS app was created, among other things, from the desire to develop a native application with SwiftUI as a supplement to the open-source web application (ti-monitoring.de) and to transfer the existing functionality to the Apple platform.

On the app's start screen, which heise online has tested in advance, all relevant TI components are displayed grouped by product type, each with its current availability status. This includes, among others, directory services, VPN access services, the KIM email service, ePA record systems, or services related to e-prescriptions. Individual groups can be expanded to view details about the respective components. The presentation is deliberately kept simple and understandable even without in-depth technical knowledge.

App Displays TI Status

Additionally, the app offers an overview at the level of specific TI applications. Here, it summarizes how the current state of the infrastructure affects well-known applications such as e-prescriptions, ePA, or KIM. In case of reported disruptions, additional information can be retrieved, such as whether it is a partial or total failure, whether maintenance work is underway, and which functions are specifically impacted.

For users with higher information needs, such as in medical facilities or IT departments, notifications can be individually configured. This allows status changes for selected components or providers to be reported specifically, without triggering all notifications indiscriminately. As with comparable monitoring services, the data is provided without guarantee, and due to complex dependencies within the TI, not every restriction can be clearly depicted.

The basic version of the app is free. An extended Pro version with additional detail views and configurable notifications is available as a one-time purchase for 4.99 euros.

(mack)