The implementation of electronic medical records is a step forward marking a strong digital transformation towards a modern, efficient and patient-centered healthcare system. The importance of electronic medical records lies not only in replacing traditional paper medical records but also in creating a comprehensive, continuous and accessible healthcare information platform, bringing many practical benefits to patients, healthcare staff and the healthcare system in general.
The transition to electronic medical records helps to store and manage online all information about the patient's health status, medical history and treatment process. Thereby helping to solve existing problems of paper medical records such as difficulties in storing, searching, sharing information as well as the risk of information loss and errors. This not only improves management efficiency but also facilitates doctors and medical staff to access information quickly, minimizes errors in the diagnosis and treatment process, reduces pressure on medical examination and treatment and management operations.
For patients, electronic medical records help reduce waiting times, improve the healthcare experience, and help them be more proactive in monitoring and managing their health. For healthcare workers, electronic medical records help them access patient information quickly and accurately, thereby making more effective treatment decisions.
Electronic medical records also facilitate coordination between specialties, helping to develop more comprehensive treatment regimens. In addition, data integration with other systems such as laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, and electronic prescriptions also contributes to reducing medical errors.
However, implementing electronic medical records is not a simple process. In fact, many healthcare facilities, especially small hospitals and medical centers, lack the necessary information technology infrastructure to make the transition. Secondly, training medical staff to use the new system is also a big challenge.
In addition, the issue of patient personal information security is always a top concern, requiring strict security measures. The lack of uniformity in regulations and policies among authorities is also a barrier in the process of implementing and managing the electronic medical record system.
In Quang Tri , the implementation of electronic medical records at medical facilities still faces many difficulties and challenges, in which the key issue is that the infrastructure does not meet the requirements. Recently, the Department of Health has reviewed and assessed the current status of electronic medical records implementation according to the criteria specified in Circular No. 46/2018/TT-BYT dated December 28, 2018 and Circular No. 54/2017/TT-BYT dated December 29, 2017 for medical facilities in the province.
Accordingly, medical facilities must meet infrastructure criteria, hospital information systems must reach level 7. Test management systems, image storage and transmission systems must reach advanced levels, and must have digital signatures and electronic medical records.
Through reviewing and evaluating the current situation, it is shown that, for the infrastructure criterion, 16/18 surveyed medical facilities only reached level 1, only the Provincial General Hospital reached level 6 and the Provincial Staff Health Management Department reached level 2. For the hospital information system criterion, 2/18 units reached level 7, the rest reached level 6.
Regarding the criteria for the testing management system, most units have achieved the advanced level, however, for the criteria for the image storage and transmission system, there are still some units that have not implemented it. Digital signatures are applied at some facilities such as the Provincial General Hospital and Trieu Hai Regional General Hospital. Many other facilities have not yet applied digital signatures, which can cause difficulties in information authentication and data security.
No facility in the database applies electronic medical records. Overall, 100% of health care facilities in the province do not fully meet the criteria for publishing electronic medical records. Particularly at the Provincial General Hospital, on April 13, 2025, the unit held a conference on digital transformation and electronic medical record appraisal.
After evaluating the criteria and conducting field tests, the appraisal council voted and agreed on the results of meeting the requirements for implementing electronic medical records to replace paper medical records at the Provincial General Hospital after the hospital supplemented and edited a number of contents and items that the council members had commented on.
Recently, on March 14, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 07/CT-TTg on "Promoting the implementation of the project to develop applications of population data, identification and electronic authentication to serve national digital transformation in the period of 2022 - 2025, with a vision to 2030 in ministries, branches and localities in 2025 and the following years".
In particular, the Ministry of Health is assigned to direct and urge 100% of hospitals nationwide to deploy electronic medical records; connect data between district and provincial hospitals of localities with hospitals under the Ministry of Health, take advantage of interconnected data to reduce testing for people.
With the mandatory roadmap until September 30, 2025, all medical facilities nationwide will complete the implementation of electronic medical records, requiring medical facilities to invest a large amount of initial resources, especially in infrastructure capacity. However, currently, the investment resources of the units are very difficult, not ensuring the construction of electronic medical records. According to statistics from the Department of Health, the total initial infrastructure investment to meet the requirements of implementing electronic medical records in the province is more than 30 billion VND.
To ensure the implementation progress as required, the Department of Health has proposed the Provincial People's Committee to support funding from the province to build network infrastructure, upgrade server systems, management software and access devices. On the part of medical facilities, it is necessary to proactively develop a clear plan for implementing electronic medical records, identify specific goals and implementation roadmap.
Develop a training plan for healthcare staff on how to use the electronic medical record system to familiarize them with the new technology. Establish data security measures early in the implementation process, provide clear security policies and strict regulations on handling patient personal information. During the implementation process, healthcare facilities need to collect feedback from users for continuous improvement, and conduct periodic assessments to identify problems that need to be addressed.
By proactively and synchronously implementing these solutions, medical facilities can accelerate the implementation of electronic medical records, contributing to improving the quality of health care services for people in the context of increasingly strong digital transformation in the health sector.
Aquarius
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/khac-phuc-kho-khan-ve-co-so-ha-tang-de-day-nhanh-tien-do-trien-khai-benh-an-dien-tu-193199.htm
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