Why do hospitals have to take pictures of patients when examining health insurance?

For the past month, the clinic at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital (HCMC) has been taking pictures of patients before they come in for health insurance examinations.

Patients wait to receive health insurance medicine at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: THUY DUONG

Reflecting to Tuoi Tre Online , a reader said: "I am 56 years old and have osteoarthritis of the knee. For the past month, clinics No. 5 and 8 of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital have been taking pictures of patients before they come in for health insurance examinations.

Recently, on July 21, I went to the clinic number 5 and they were still taking pictures like that. Many patients like me do not understand why the hospital has to take pictures of patients. I heard that the hospital is piloting taking pictures of patients at these two clinics, after the pilot, it will be expanded to other clinics.

Why does the hospital have to take pictures of patients before examining them?

In response to this reader's question, Mr. Vo Duc Chien, director of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital, said that currently the health sector in general and Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital in particular are gradually transforming digitally, implementing electronic medical records to improve the quality of patient service.

The hospital strictly complies with the law on protecting the personal image of patients.

In the initial phase of piloting digital transformation, some technical and operational processes of the hospital may not be fully completed, causing inconvenience to patients.

Identifying patients by image during the digital transformation process, as well as electronic medical records, is one of the steps to help "prevent patient confusion", putting the safety and interests of patients first, especially when patients using health insurance are gradually implementing digital transformation through applications according to regulations.

The work of identifying patients by image is entirely for the benefit of the patient community; helping the medical team ensure "right person - right disease - right medicine - right testing and treatment process", reducing errors in the medical examination and treatment process.

The hospital always respects and listens to all comments and contributions from patients.

In the coming time, the hospital will continue to review and adjust the process to ensure effective patient identification and bring a better experience to people when they come to the hospital for medical examination and treatment.

Currently, patient identification to correctly identify patients during medical examination and treatment, and image storage to prevent patient confusion in medical examination and treatment records have also been implemented in a number of other medical facilities in the city.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance, said that currently all hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are gradually converting to digital, implementing electronic medical records to improve the quality of patient service according to the roadmap of the Ministry of Health .

Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital is also implementing electronic medical records, including a number of technical and operational processes of the hospital, including patient reception software with image recognition in the implementation of digital transformation.

This is one of the steps to help shorten the outpatient examination and treatment process (reduce registration time, reduce patient waiting time), bringing benefits to patients, hospitals and society.

In the initial stages of implementing electronic medical records, they may not be fully implemented, causing inconvenience to patients, but the next time patients come for examination, it will be more convenient. Therefore, when implementing, the hospital needs to consult and explain clearly so that patients understand and cooperate.

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THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-benh-vien-phai-chup-hinh-benh-nhan-khi-kham-bao-hiem-y-te-20250724145610095.htm