The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) aims to complete an initiative integrating hospitals’ electronic health record (EHR) systems by the end of the year to make it easier to share patients’ data when they are referred to other healthcare facilities, health officials said in Taipei yesterday.
Taiwan has been promoting digital transformation in the healthcare sector to optimize medical care for the public and ease the burden on health personnel, the ministry said.
As global smart healthcare is rapidly advancing, Taiwan must build a health information system aligned with international standards, MOHW Deputy Minister Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said at the first Taiwan Top 50 SMART Apps Awards Ceremony & SMART SUMMIT International Forum.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
Toward this end, the ministry introduced the “SMART on FHIR” framework last year, he said.
“SMART on FHIR” stands for Substitutable Medical Applications and Reusable Technologies on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, which is an open, standards-based technology framework that allows healthcare apps to securely connect, access and exchange data with different EHR systems.
The framework would make the originally closed and siloed healthcare information systems become interoperable across hospitals and systems, Chuang said.
“Through the FHIR standard and supporting digital infrastructure, patients will no longer need to bring physical medical records or undergo duplicate examinations when visiting a different hospital or clinic,” he said.
With patients’ consent, health data can be integrated in real-time, so doctors can quickly access patients’ medical records, enhancing diagnostic efficiency and quality, he added.
There are more than 30 EHR systems in use in Taiwan, making it difficult to integrate medical data across hospitals, MOHW Department of Information Management Director Lee Chien-chang (李建璋) said
However, the FHIR standard is like the www — World Wide Web — of health data exchange and is used widely around the world, Lee said.
The ministry in 2024 started implementing a four-year Next-Generation EHR System program, with trial runs at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Taichung’s Chung Shan Medical University Hospital reporting success in achieving medical record interoperability at the end of last year, he said.
The ministry plans to offer education and training to medical centers this year, and it aims to achieve EHR interoperability across all medical centers nationwide by the end of this year, Lee said.
If successful, the system would be introduced to primary clinics and local public health centers next year, he added.
The ministry yesterday handed out awards to 50 outstanding domestic apps, which are expected to be widely used across healthcare facilities at all levels to enhance service efficiency.
Many international experts joined the forum to exchange insights on digital healthcare trends, the ministry said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS