On February 11th, Associate Professor Dr. Đào Xuân Cơ, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, shared with the press that digital transformation, electronic medical records, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosis and treatment are among the six key tasks in the development of Bach Mai Hospital into a specialized, internationally recognized hospital.
Saving $4.3 Million and Leveraging AI on a Massive Medical Database
According to Dr. Cơ, Bach Mai Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to implement electronic medical records (EMR) and digital transformation.
Dr. Đào Xuân Cơ emphasized that linking medical data will save tens of billions for the healthcare sector (Photo: Hồng Hải).
“At present, 100% of patients at our hospital do not use paper medical records, and we no longer print films during examinations. By eliminating these two steps, the hospital saves approximately $4.3 million annually on printing films and paper records,” Dr. Cơ informed.
Bach Mai Hospital and Cho Ray Hospital have been assigned the task of serving as pilot points for linking medical data. Bach Mai Hospital has successfully implemented data linkage with Bac Ninh General Hospital. Once successful, this model will be rolled out across hospitals nationwide.
Bach Mai Hospital has fully adopted electronic medical records and digitization, saving around $4.3 million annually by avoiding the costs of printing films and paper records (Photo: Thành Dương).
Dr. Cơ noted that this is highly significant, as it provides a vast national medical database that can greatly assist in policy planning, scientific research, workforce training, and medication preparation.
“Electronic medical records and the linkage of medical data between hospitals will save a substantial amount of budget. Linked tests and imaging scans will significantly reduce costs for patients, far exceeding the $4.3 million saved on film and paper printing at Bach Mai Hospital, reaching tens of billions nationally.”
Linking medical data will also facilitate professional support between different levels of care. Doctors at Bach Mai Hospital can review diagnostic images from hospitals like Lao Cai, providing consultations and contributing to treatment plans.
Moreover, digital transformation helps the hospital manage finances, assets, equipment procurement, and consumables more efficiently, reducing stockouts of medicines and supplies.
Associate Professor Dr. Vũ Văn Giáp, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, stated that implementing digital transformation and EMRs is the first step towards applying AI in diagnosis and treatment.
Patients visiting Bach Mai Hospital no longer need paper records or printed films (Photo: Thành Dương).
“With about 2 million outpatient visits and 200,000-250,000 inpatient admissions each year, this massive database of tests, imaging, and treatment plans is invaluable for developing AI in early diagnosis, predicting disease trends, and personalized treatment protocols,” Dr. Giáp explained.
Director Dr. Cơ mentioned that Bach Mai Hospital has already applied AI for early lung cancer detection, identifying lesions as small as 3-5mm, and early gastrointestinal cancer detection when tumors are still in the mucosal layer. This allows for more effective, less costly treatments.
Keeping Patients In-Country for Treatment
According to Dr. Cơ, Bach Mai Hospital aims to achieve six key tasks in 2025, including:
- Implementing multi-organ transplant programs;
- Applying electronic medical records, digital transformation, and AI in diagnosis, treatment, and patient management;
- Utilizing gene therapy;
- Employing stem cell technology;
- Performing robotic surgery;
- Using 3D printing for medical devices and products.
Director Dr. Cơ stated that Bach Mai Hospital is one of six hospitals tasked by the government to develop into specialized, internationally recognized hospitals, providing healthcare services to limit the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
“In the near future, Bach Mai Hospital will establish an International Healthcare Center to treat patients who require advanced care. If patients wish to consult with international experts or invite them for treatment, the hospital will serve as a bridge to connect these specialists for consultation and treatment right here,” Dr. Giáp added.
Dr. Cơ emphasized that the goal is to keep patients in-country for treatment, reducing their travel burden and preventing large amounts of foreign currency from flowing out of the country. The hospital will have the opportunity to reinvest in domestic healthcare, improving the capabilities of healthcare staff using these funds.
Notably, Dr. Cơ highlighted that with over 4,000 staff, including nearly 1,000 professors, associate professors, and PhDs, Bach Mai Hospital will be a key training ground for high-quality healthcare professionals.
“We aim to train healthcare workers from basic to advanced levels, even reaching remote villages for primary healthcare training, and offering cutting-edge technical training. Our goal is to continuously improve the quality of healthcare to meet patient needs,” Dr. Cơ concluded.
Regarding the second campus of Bach Mai Hospital, Dr. Cơ stated that the hospital is preparing its healthcare workforce to be ready to operate the new 1,000-bed facility once assigned.
“This will be another specialized healthcare center, extending Bach Mai Hospital’s reach in patient care and treatment,” Dr. Cơ said.
