The best EHR is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the system that demonstrably supports clinical care, privacy and administration.
Start with the care pathway
Map the patient journey, roles and information handovers before comparing vendors. The record should follow clinical work without duplicate entry while producing structured data for quality and claims.
- Intake, history, examination and treatment plan.
- Consent, correspondence and patient communication.
- DBC activities, scheduling and billing.
- Aftercare, complications and follow-up.
Privacy and information security
Dutch medical treatment law requires providers to maintain a medical record, and access must be limited to authorised staff. Apply least privilege, log access and changes, and periodically review rights. The IGJ states that NEN 7510 is relevant even to small providers processing personal data in a health information system.
- Unique accounts and strong authentication.
- Role-based access and periodic recertification.
- Auditable logging, backup and recovery.
- Supplier agreements for incidents, export and termination.
Selection criteria that matter
Ask vendors to demonstrate your actual workflows. Assess usability, availability, migration, standards, reporting and total cost. Document requirements and outcomes to support both the purchasing decision and risk control.
- Can the clinic export a complete record?
- Which integrations are available and tested?
- How are releases and changes controlled?
- What support applies during service hours and outages?
Implementation and control
Perform a data protection impact assessment where risk calls for it, test authorisations and critical workflows, train by role and use a controlled go-live. After launch, incidents, feedback and change requests belong in one governance process.
Frequently asked questions
How long must a medical record be kept?
The general Dutch statutory period is at least twenty years from the last change, with circumstances that may require longer retention.
Does NEN 7510 apply to a small clinic?
The IGJ says it applies to every provider processing personal data in a health information system, with risk-based implementation.
Does an EHR need audit logging?
Access and actions must be auditable. Define what is logged, retention and who reviews it.
Official sources
This guide provides general information, not legal or medical advice. Always verify current official requirements for your circumstances.