Since early December 2025, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, DKTIG, D-Trust, and RISE have been conducting a joint friendly user test following initial approval by gematik to evaluate the issuance and use of the HSM-B in the RISE Highspeed Connector at RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG.

The focus was particularly on the issuance and transfer of the HSM-B, as well as its use in complex infrastructures in a production environment. The goal was to evaluate the solution under real-world conditions and assess key aspects such as interoperability with various primary systems, ease of use, performance, and stability.

The user-friendly test of RISE’s HSM-B solution was conducted at RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. In addition to practical use in the production environment, the upstream issuance and blocking processes were also thoroughly tested.

During the project period, all parties involved worked closely together to validate both technical and organizational processes. The results show that HSM-B functions reliably even under real-world conditions and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. To this end, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG tested HSM-B in selected primary systems. Specifically, the TI connection was tested using a vKonnektor and HSM-B to the primary systems, including the TI specialist services (VSDM, E-Rezept, ePA, eAU, and KIM).

The findings from the friendly user test provide important insights for the next steps in the widespread rollout of HSM-B within the TI at healthcare provider institutions and providers. At the same time, the test in the production environment confirms that the solution meets the requirements of modern, scalable TI architectures and provides a stable foundation for the further expansion of virtual institutional IDs.

“We are pleased that we were able to make a significant contribution to the next major step in TI and, as the first manufacturer, pilot the gematik-approved RISE Highspeed-Konnektor solution with HSM-B as part of a Friendly User Test. The HSM-B solution underwent a thorough reality check in a production environment—and it passed,” says Dr. Christian Schanes, member of RISE management.

“For hospitals, adopting the Highspeed-Konnektor is already a major step forward. The HSM-B represents a huge milestone and enables large institutions to transition to digital IT processes even more quickly and reliably. We also hope for the KBV’s participation soon, because the HSM-B is not exclusively a hospital issue. Rather, every practice and every medical care center needs an HSM-B for stable IT operations,” explains Julian Schäfer, Head of Medical Processes 2 (MP2) at RHÖN-KLINIKUM IT-Service GmbH.

“By providing institutional identity as a virtual ID, physical cards are no longer needed. This makes using the HSM-B as a certificate significantly easier than the previous card-based identity on the practice and institutional ID card (SMC-B)—and just as secure,” says Janine Weber, project manager for the HSM-B at the qualified trust service provider D-Trust, a company of the Bundesdruckerei Group.

René Schubert of the DKTIG adds, “The virtualization of institutional ID cards presents hospitals with significant opportunities to simplify their own basic infrastructure for TI connectivity while simultaneously establishing a robust foundation for the use of TI applications.”

From the perspective of the participating partners, the test in the production environment underscores the importance of close collaboration: Thanks to the coordinated cooperation between RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG, DKTIG, D-Trust, and RISE, both technical and procedural aspects could be thoroughly tested. The insights gained will now be incorporated into the next development steps and will help provide a practical and high-performance solution for healthcare facilities.

Meet the experts at DMEA

• April 21, 2026, 2:00 PM “Expert Discussion on HSM-B” RISE x DKTIG
  (Hall 1.2, Booth D-109)
• April 21, 2026, 3:00 p.m. “Expert Discussion on HSM-B” D-Trust x DKTIG
  (Hall 1.2, Booth C-112)
• April 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m. “Expert Discussion on HSM-B” RISE x RHÖN-KLINIKUM IT
  (Hall 1.2, Booth D-109)

About RISE (Research Industrial Systems Engineering):

As a manufacturer and driver of digital technologies from Europe for Europe and the entire digital world, the IT company RISE, which was founded more than 20 years ago as an R&D company from the Vienna University of Technology, can point to leading references, long-standing customers, key technologies, solid products and in-depth expertise in sectors such as healthcare, mobility, finance, retail, administration, manufacturing, industry and IT security. RISE enables partners to be solid innovators and digital transformers, while at the same time reliably integrating good old procedural and existing knowledge from established companies and institutions.

Since 2006, RISE has played a leading role in setting up the telematics infrastructure (TI) in the German healthcare system and has brought numerous components and services to approval. RISE is currently responsible for the ongoing expansion of the RISE Highspeed-Konnektor and TI-Gateway, the development of over 22 million highly secure patient files (ePA) for more than 80 statutory and private insurance companies, a service for secure e-mail communication between doctors (KIM), the TI's central identity provider (IDP) for access control to specialist services such as the electronic prescription (e-prescription), several federated IDPs and numerous other special components in the TI. RISE supplies doctors' surgeries, pharmacies and many hospitals with infrastructure software and provides end-to-end operation, maintenance and further development. In addition to ePA deliveries to statutory health insurers, RISE equips a growing number of private health insurance customers with ePA technology and a future-proof health ID.

As a global software construction company as well as a system manufacturer and integrator, RISE has key experience, technologies and components for nationwide and Europe-wide solutions in many digitalization sectors such as gov-tech, insurance, payment and banking, logistics, transport, mobility, public administration, industrial IoT, IT security technology, cell phone security or digital ID.

RISE supplies business partners as a technology manufacturer or integrator and generally leaves broad-based communication to its customers and partners. Please send detailed information on technical, project, technology and research topics by e-mail to:
7a786f79796f4a7863796f277d6578666e24696567. The RISE Group operates in Germany with four companies in the field of substantial digitalization.

About RHÖN-KLINIKUM

RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG is one of the largest healthcare providers in Germany. Its hospitals offer excellent medical care with direct links to universities and research institutions. At its five locations - the RHÖN-KLINIKUM Campus Bad Neustadt, Klinikum Frankfurt (Oder), Universitätsklinikum Gießen, Universitätsklinikum Marburg (UKGM), and the Zentralklinik Bad Berka - approximately 882,000 patients are treated annually. The company employs over 18,200 people. The innovative RHÖN Campus concept, which stands for cross-sectoral and forward-looking healthcare in rural areas, the consistent continuation of the company’s gradual digital transformation, and the strategic partnership with Asklepios are key pillars of the corporate strategy. RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG is an independent company under the umbrella of Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA.
www.rhoen-klinikum-ag.com

About DKTIG

The DKTIG is jointly supported by the German Hospital Association (Deutsche Krankenhausgesellschaft) and the 16 state hospital associations. The DKTIG assists hospitals, preventive care clinics, and rehabilitation clinics in meeting security requirements, particularly in connection with the transmission of patient-related data, and performs the trust center function for data transmission in accordance with Section 301 of the SGB V, as well as within the framework of the telematics infrastructure. In the context of the pilot project, DKTIG is responsible for verifying the identities of institutions and applicants, as well as for approving the production of certificate material.

About D-Trust

D-Trust GmbH, headquartered in Berlin, is a company within the Bundesdruckerei Group. Its technologically advanced solutions make it a pioneer in secure digital business processes and identities. In this way, the company strengthens trust in digitalization. As an independent and qualified trust service provider, D-Trust has been listed with the "Bundesnetzagentur" under the eIDAS Regulation since 2016. The company translates trust into concrete products: It provides legally compliant and certified trust services such as digital certificates and electronic signatures, as well as solutions for secure data management, such as data trustee platforms. These meet the highest security standards of modern infrastructures and enable secure digital identities for businesses, government agencies, and private individuals. D-Trust GmbH currently employs around 300 people and generated revenue of 45.8 million euros in 2024.
For more information, visit www.d-trust.net