Group chats with doctors and co.: TI-Messenger starts for legally insured persons

For legally insured persons, the TI-Messenger (TIM) is gradually rolled out, which is connected to the telematics infrastructure (Ti). This is a messenger based on the Matrix protocol, which is intended to network doctors, medical specialist staff, health insurance companies and now insured persons. For health insurance companies such as the technician or the AOK, Tim can be found in the respective app for the electronic patient file (EPA). At Barmer, the new function in the Ecare app can be found under “Chats with practices”. Before the use of Tim, a consent for use must be granted.

Then insured persons could chat with doctors, pharmacists or health insurance companies, for example, provided they meet the requirements and allow a chat or select the insured for a chat. For example, doctors can also scan a QR code of the insured person, which can be seen in the insured’s EPA app.

If you have Tim, you can chat with your health insurance company with regard to various concerns, for example through the “membership”, benefits, “long -term care insurance”, “additional offers” or “other”. The chats are opened, depending on the concerns. In addition, groups can be created that several participants can be added. Details about the account can be seen in the room settings. If you are listed in the directory, doctors can be selected for a chat, but other insureds do not.

For example, Tim can then also be made to make a data protection dates, clarify any questions or convey important information. Power providers should also be able to decide for themselves who can contact them via the TI-Messenger. The exchange of medical documents such as discharge letters or X-ray images is also intended for the future-to-end-encrypted. Further functions are also planned for Tim, such as video telephony and group calls. How big the range of functions at the start is will be shown, so far Tim has not yet been extensively tested.

No comprehensive availability yet

Probably not all insured persons will be able to chat with their doctor via Tim, whereupon The BKK Linde indicates its insured persons. In addition to the EPA app, the prerequisite is that the doctor’s office has the necessary technical equipment-such as the EPA module-and actively participates in Tim.

The introduction of the TI-Messenger (Tim) has been postponed several times; The start for insured persons was originally planned in January 2025. Compared to fax, telephone or email, communication with Tim should be faster, more structured and safer. Tim complements the existing KIM communication, but does not replace it.

Tim Test

Tim is already actively used in practices and clinics, especially in the model regions. At the beginning of April 2024, the first TI-Messenger received approval for Tim, followed by more and Tim was tested in the model regions. The start of Tim for doctors was actually already planned for 2023. According to Markus HabethaProject manager in the Hamburg model region, the pilot phase showed that Tim offers advantages, especially when it comes to the daily coordination between the family doctor, nursing, pharmacy and specialist. In addition, the EPA update also offers other improvements, such as the possibility of making individual institutions accessible to data from the medication list and not everyone.