Application of information technology in medical examination and treatment

Promoting the application of information technology (IT) is a premise to strongly promote the digital transformation program in the medical field, improving the ability to examine, treat, and care for people’s health. The Provincial General Hospital has invested in facilities, infrastructure, and applied IT in many areas of operation, helping people have closer access to advanced medical equipment, techniques, and services in examination and treatment.

Automatic sample transport system using the LIS vacuum method at Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital.

After a day of taking care of a relative at the hospital, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (Tien Cat ward, Viet Tri city) said: "My father is over 80 years old this year. When I saw him showing signs of dizziness and continuous vomiting, I rushed him to the Provincial General Hospital for emergency care without bringing any documents. Fortunately, thanks to the electronic medical record, the doctors knew his medical history, so it was easy to diagnose and treat him. So far, my father’s health has gradually recovered."

Regularly examined and treated at the hospital, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung (Tien Phu commune, Phu Ninh district) shared: "In previous years, every time I went to the hospital, I had to wait a long time to get a ticket, arrange the examination ticket, get the test results... Now, after my daughter made an appointment in advance through the hospital’s switchboard, I was given a queue number, and the examination process was carried out quickly, which is very convenient, helping me save a lot of time."

The Provincial General Hospital is one of the leading provincial hospitals in digital transformation, applying IT in operations, management, examination, and treatment. In 2013, the hospital became the first hospital in the country to deploy the software “HIS Smart Hospital Solution," followed by the smart medical examination card program “Viet Card - One National Card” in 2014...

Following those successes, the hospital has deployed information and process digitization and applied many smart solutions, such as: The PACS application allows online storage of all diagnostic imaging data accurately. After the scan is completed, all images will be immediately transmitted to the diagnosing doctor’s screen, meeting the requirements of clinical departments and helping doctors read the results quickly and accurately without having to wait for a printout. Thereby, contributing to shortening waiting time, examination time, diagnosis, and treatment. The automatic sample transport system using the LIS vacuum method from clinical departments to the laboratory is also one of the highlights, helping to transport samples quickly, save time, improve sample quality, and ensure the most accurate test results...

The Provincial General Hospital applies a pre-registration system through the Customer Care Center and the hospital’s communication channels, such as the fan page, website, and Zalo OA, especially the electronic health management software via the DKPT App. Synchronizing many applications on software such as: managing and operating electronic documents; managing electronic medical records from receiving patients for examination, appointment for examination, appointment for hospitalization, prescription, daily treatment orders, appointment for testing - imaging, receiving test results - imaging, ending treatment, payment for discharge... to provide optimal support for both patients and doctors during the examination and treatment process.

With efforts in process improvement, IT application, and digital transformation, the Provincial General Hospital has increasingly improved the quality of medical examination and treatment; contributed to reducing the rate of referrals, reducing the burden on central hospitals; improved the quality of medical examination and treatment; and affirmed its position as the leading address in health care for people in the province and the provinces in the Northwest region.

Ha Trang