A doctor at Nguyễn Tri Phương Hospital in HCM City views a patient's diagnostic imaging results on a computer. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

 HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health has coordinated with relevant departments and units to create technical plans for the implementation of electronic health records (EHR).

Deploying an EHR system aims to ensure the health data of residents to be interconnected between grassroots healthcare facilities and central-level medical units.

The Department of Health has also cooperated with the consulting unit of the city's Digital Transformation Centre to finalise procedures for implementing EHRs. 

The department will create initial data for the city residents' records by using COVID-19 vaccination and immunisation data.

Residents' health data will be integrated into the electronic health record on the VNeID app, starting with health data for the elderly, with over 100,000 records now available.

According to the city’s digital transformation programme, the Department of Health will create initial data for electronic health records for 90 per cent of the city's residents. 

Health data and information on electronic health records will be integrated from health checkups for the elderly and medical records from healthcare facilities.

The municipal People’s Committee has targeted all city residents to have electronic medical records connected to the city's health facilities database by 2025. 

Records have been compiled from 2019.

The database will update information on patients and, ultimately, universal health coverage for all its residents. 

By 2022, the city had collected initial data on residents’ health, including name, age, gender, birth, address, ID, and medical history. 

The data will be updated year by year until 2025. 

After collecting and setting up the data, relevant agencies will analyse and carry out a health index of residents to evaluate disease scenarios in the city.

Artificial intelligence will be applied in research and will forecast trends related to health. Later, suitable strategies to improve the health of residents will be suggested.

The committee also instructed relevant agencies to increase investment in IT infrastructure to ensure data security.

Software used for electronic medical records must match the city’s electronic architecture and the Ministry of Health’s technical standards. 

The software will also be used widely and be compatible with relevant health information systems.

When a health facility admits a patient, it is responsible for searching the system for information related to the patient's health and medical history and updating the patient's medical information in their electronic medical records. 

Via electronic medical records, patients will be examined and treated more rapidly and accurately.

When doctors type the code of a patient’s electronic medical record, they access the latest information about the patient, helping them improve diagnosis and treatment. 

Residents in the city will also have access to and be aware of their records so they can be proactive in monitoring their health. — VNS