What is the significance of the scan function in the ALS app?

The ALS app has a scan function. This allows documents to be photographed (“scanned”), sorted into different categories (e.g. doctor’s letter, referral slip, prescription) and uploaded to the ALS app. These documents are visible in the app and are also synchronized with the user account on the outpatient partner care platform. There, the scans are stored in the “Document Center” and made accessible to all those involved in care who have access to the patient’s account. In this way, important documents (scans) are stored for the patient in a defined location (ALS app) and are always “at hand” (on the smartphone).

At the same time, these documents can be viewed by coordinators, ALS outpatient clinics, the ALS pharmacy, medical supply stores, aid providers and nutrition and respiration teams. Doctor’s letters and diagnostic reports are of particular interest, especially those that indicate the diagnosis. This document can also be used by outpatient partners to complete the diagnosis and other medical details (symptoms and secondary diagnoses) in the patient account. In addition to the doctor’s letter from the initial diagnosis, other follow-up letters are also relevant. Scans via the ALS app allow the ALS outpatient clinic to access medical documents from other hospitals or medical practices without the patient always having to carry the printed letters with them. Even after the introduction of the electronic patient file (ePA) in Germany, the exchange of documents between medical facilities is incomplete, so it is helpful for patients to provide the documents themselves.

The scan function is also suitable for letters from health insurance companies, letters of objection against rejected medical aids as well as expert opinions and test reports on medical aids. These documents are important for medical supply stores, outpatient clinics and other partners involved in the provision of medical aids. Living wills and health care proxies are other important documents that can be scanned and saved in the ALS app and shared with the care network.

For living wills in particular, the ALS app makes it possible for the patient’s decision for (or against) certain measures to be available in the ALS app and the outpatient partner account in addition to the original document at home (“in the drawer”). Overall, scanning and managing ALS-related documents in the ALS app is a great advantage for the patients themselves as well as for ALS outpatient clinics, ALS coordinators and care partners.