MedMij is the Dutch set of agreements (afsprakenstelsel) that lets patients collect their health data from healthcare providers in a personal health environment (PGO, persoonlijke gezondheidsomgeving) of their own choice. A PGO is an app or website where someone keeps their own medical information, such as GP data, medication or lab results. MedMij itself is not an app or a database. It sets the rules for security, identification and data standards, so that any labelled PGO can safely retrieve data from any connected provider.
How does MedMij work?
- The patient chooses a PGO that carries the MedMij label, and asks it to retrieve data from their GP, hospital or other provider.
- The patient logs in with DigiD at the provider's side, so the provider knows the request really comes from that person.
- A qualified service provider handles the request for the healthcare provider. Providers do not connect to MedMij themselves; they connect through a MedMij-qualified service provider, usually their EHR supplier or a specialised party.
- The data is sent in agreed information standards, which are based on FHIR, so every PGO can read it in the same way.
Who takes part?
The participants are PGO suppliers and the service providers that work for healthcare providers. Both have to meet the MedMij requirements before they get a label or qualification. Patients do not join MedMij; they simply use a labelled PGO. Healthcare providers take part indirectly, through their service provider.
What does MedMij mean for software?
For a healthcare provider, the main task is making sure the data in its own systems is available in the right FHIR format to its service provider. For a healthtech company it can mean building a PGO or integrating with the information standards directly. In both cases the work is mostly about clean data, correct coding and a reliable FHIR interface. See our HL7 and FHIR integrations and patient data tooling, and for the provider-insurer side, VECOZO.
Frequently Asked Questions about MedMij
Is MedMij an app?
No. MedMij is a set of agreements. Patients use a PGO app or website that carries the MedMij label; MedMij makes sure that PGO can safely retrieve data from providers.
Can healthcare providers share data with each other through MedMij?
No. MedMij is about data going from providers to the patient's own PGO. Exchanges between providers use other networks and standards.
How does a healthcare provider connect to MedMij?
Through a MedMij-qualified service provider, usually its EHR supplier or a specialised party. That service provider handles the DigiD login and the requests from PGOs.
Which technical standard does MedMij use?
Information standards based on HL7 FHIR, with agreed content such as GP data, medication and lab results, so every PGO receives the data in the same structure.