The author: Liu Huan

　　Source: Beijing Daily

　　Informative abstract:

　　Going to the hospital to see a doctor, in addition to registration and queuing, finishing the results of various inspections is also a troublesome business. But this kind of trouble is gradually changing. Yesterday, the reporter learned from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning that there are currently 30 pilot hospitals in Beijing to share the electronic medical records, which means that patients in any of the 30 hospitals, when visiting the other 29 hospitals, the doctor there can retrieve the patient's previous test results, major diagnoses, medications, and surgical conditions at any time.

　　　　The electronic medical record sharing project was started in 2015, and the first phase of the project was completed in 2016. The city-level population health information platform was initially constructed and connected with each district at that time. At present, 30 pilot hospitals in the city have realized the sharing of electronic medical records. At the same time, some hospitals have also realized reminders of drug allergy, repeated medications and repeated tests. For example, when a doctor receives a patient, he or she can call the patient's drug allergy information to realize the drug allergy reminding function. When the drug is prescribed, the patient's drug record for the last 3 months can be checked to realize the repeated drug reminder. According to statistics, at present, the city's electronic medical record sharing project has collected nearly 100 million outpatient visits and more than two million hospitalizations.

List of pilot hospitals

Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Stomatological Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Anding Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Shijitan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Capital Hospital Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Capital Pediatric Research Institute, Peking University Cancer Hospital, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing Shunyi District Hospital, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Beijing Daxing District People's Hospital, Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital, Beijing Hospital, Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Shijingshan Hospital, Beijing Chest Hospital, Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternity Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing Xiaotangshan Hospital, Fu Wai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

In the future, the number of hospitals sharing electronic medical records in the city will continue to increase. According to the relevant person in charge of the Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, the next phase of the project will cover all tertiary hospitals and regional medical centers in the Beijing, and is currently under review by the Commission of Economy and Information Technology. “Our ultimate goal is to achieve full coverage of all medical institutions in the Beijing area.”

Response to related hot issues

Will electronic medical record sharing reveal patients’ privacy?

Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning: In the medical record sharing review, the patient's privacy will not be neglected, and the patient's privacy will be protected by the doctor's and patient's dual authorization. Meanwhile, the hospital information system security and hospital network security protect patients’ privacy. The hospital can choose the way of patient authorization according to the actual situation, including through the paper agreement or the patient's electronic handwriting.

How long is the period that the medical records are shared?

Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning: The sharing of information in electronic medical records is time-sensitive. At present, the information about patients' visits in the last 3 months is shared, including basic information of patients, departments, profession, time and reasons for diagnosis of other hospitals, information on surgical operations, prescription information, and inspection information.

Can patient’s imaging results also be shared?

Head of the Information Department of Peking University Cancer Hospital: Due to the large amount of data, currently the patient image data has not been included in the electronic medical record that can be shared. Text information are mainly shared now.

Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning: Because the image data processing requires a professional image processing system, it is difficult to connect the information system between hospitals. We are also actively looking for ways to solve the problem of sharing image inspection results as soon as possible. Mutual recognition of test results and sharing of image data are technical and quality issues and need to be consistent with the specifications. The results can be used by clinicians to diagnose the diseases as well. If the image data does not meet the standard requirements, even if the interconnection is interoperable, it is still difficult for doctors to recognize it.

Editor: Guo Yutong