Photo courtesy of Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center
Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in South Korea has been validated at Stage 6 of the HIMSS Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model, which gauges an organisation's maturity in EMR use.
WHY IT MATTERS
The 1,000-bed hospital in Daegu, south of capital Seoul, sought to validate its EMR capabilities against international standards. It set up its EMR system in 2018.
As part of its preparation, a dedicated EMRAM task force formed in March engaged with 32 departments to review and document KUDMC's existing processes. It also collected data from its HIS and multiple hospital devices to produce 244 evidence documents.
"Through this process, we gained an objective understanding of our hospital’s strengths and weaknesses," said KUDMC president and professor Dr Chi-Heum Cho.
"To address the identified gaps, we introduced three new systems, while also defining and refining the related operational workflows to ensure sustainability and compliance with EMRAM standards," he added.
These three new systems were closed-loop medication administration, a back-up HIS, and closed-loop pharmacy management.
During its validation, the hospital showcased its closed-loop medication management system, which provides end-to-end monitoring from supplier to handover, with each stage verified through barcode and QR code scanning. The system was developed in April and became operational in August.
The system automates inventory management, minimises dispensing errors through real-time label checks, ensures accurate inventory tracking by syncing with the HIS, and strengthens handover transparency with staff ID verification.
All this, according to KUDMC, has resulted in fewer medication safety incidents and more efficient workflows. It also noted utilisation rates of 94% for transfusion, 87% for breast milk feeding and specimen collection, and 74% for medication.
HIMSS validators also praised the hospital’s closed-loop pharmacy management system. This system manages every step of the process, from receipt and packaging to labelling and dispensing, with barcode and QR code validation ensuring real-time monitoring. The workflow has helped prevent dispensing errors, improve accountability, and enhance transparency across pharmacy operations.
To safeguard operations during IT disruptions, KUDMC also implemented an emergency HIS, a backup system designed to keep inpatient wards, emergency services, and operating rooms running even during full-scale server or network outages.
THE LARGER TREND
KUDMC is the first hospital outside of the Seoul metropolitan area to be validated at Stage 6 of the HIMSS EMRAM. Korea University Anam Hospital is also currently validated at the same stage, while Samsung Medical Center and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital are both validated at Stage 7.
The Daegu-based hospital is now undergoing a HIMSS Digital Health Indicator assessment and preparing for a Stage 7 EMRAM validation.
ON THE RECORD
"Achieving HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 holds significant meaning for us. We are the fourth hospital in Korea and the first outside the Seoul metropolitan area to receive this recognition. This milestone validates that Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center's digital clinical capabilities and patient safety framework meet international standards. It also reinforces our position as a regional hub for smart hospital innovation, advancing both the quality and safety of care while strengthening our leadership in digital health," commented Dr Cho.
