Over the past two years, hospitals in Taiwan have increasingly drawn attention for their digital maturity. Perhaps the most effective hospital in this group is China Medical University Hospital, which scored multiple HIMSS certifications and ranked third globally in the 2022 HIMSS Digital Health Index.
In January this year, the Taichung-based hospital took first place in the 2023 DHI rankings – scoring 370 out of 400 points – demonstrating its progress in digital healthcare capabilities and commitment to realizing the power of IT.
Leading the hospital’s digital transformation journey is Dr. Der-Yang Cho, Director of CMUH since 2009. He spoke to Healthcare IT News to shed light on his digital health journey and what’s next for the hospital.
Passion for medical innovation
“Seven years ago, during my visits to countries like Japan, I observed many digital health initiatives. During these visits, I realized the huge potential of AI in medical applications, an irreversible trend,” said Dr. Cho.
Through these visits, he learned about how AI can speed up diagnostics, improve accuracy, and address issues like limited medical resources and overburdened healthcare professionals.
This led to CMUH establishing the AI Center in 2017, thereby promoting the development of AI technology. The hospital has achieved several milestones in its use of AI.
“From 2022 to 2023, we has partnered with Microsoft Taiwan to launch China’s pioneering AI healthcare system, ‘gHi-Intelligent Healthcare System’ in Taiwan. The system can recognize the voices of healthcare professionals, record medical questions and summaries given by medical staff, and significantly improve the efficiency of clinical work in various scenarios.
“Another important highlight is our Partner with Google [which began in 2023]. We have collaborated to develop comprehensive systems such as the ‘MIRA Medical Records Assistant’, ‘Chemotherapy Assistant’ and ‘Medication Q&A Chat’, which use the MedLM medical language model. These systems support diagnosis, treatment planning and patient education by incorporating Google solutions, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions faster. The time and resources saved are then redirected to patient care.”
As a clinician specializing in neurosurgery, Dr. Cho has also made significant contributions to medical research. In June 2019, he established the Center for Cell Therapy, focusing on the development of multi-targeted, multifunctional CAR.BiTE-γδT immunotherapy. The Center also focuses on the development of technology for targeted exosome drugs.
“The goal is to provide patients with more effective treatment options through these advanced therapies… I have always believed in patient-centeredness, hoping that through medical innovation and research, we can contribute to the future development of healthcare by addressing incurable and untreatable diseases, ultimately bringing hope and better outcomes to our patients,” he explained.
Success by design
The hospital’s DHI success is no accident. Vision and goal setting, cross-departmental collaboration, regular meetings, technical collaboration, and a patient-centered approach have all combined to create the recipe for success.
“We have conducted a detailed analysis based on the results of our initial DHI assessment. [in 2022] to identify areas for improvement. From this self-assessment, we developed a comprehensive improvement plan, assigning responsible individuals and a timeline for each step,” Dr. Cho shared.
To address the gaps in relevant technical tools identified in the assessment, the hospital introduced advanced digital health technologies and tools into the ICU command center and integrated them into protocols for critical and complex cases.
“We have carefully considered how to incorporate these improvements into our existing healthcare service processes to improve service quality and efficiency.”
Realizing that digital technology must be accessible beyond IT and AI engineers, CMUH has also launched the “One Department, One AI Doctor” initiative. In collaboration with the Taiwan AI Academy, the hospital has provided AI knowledge and training to healthcare professionals, ensuring that clinical needs are met through the effective use of AI technology. This approach helps support the medical team and address clinical challenges through technological advancements.
“These efforts and achievements have brought CMUH to the pinnacle of being recognized as the top smart hospital globally in DHI 2023. We have also received the HIMSS Davies Excellence Award and been listed among Newsweek’s Best Smart Hospitals in 2023 and 2024. These achievements are the best affirmation of our team’s hard work.”
Digital transformation is a continuous process
Dr. Cho shared that the hospital has implemented many initiatives, such as developing medical AI and big data analytics by integrating, validating, and deploying generative AI in medical facilities, and creating a smart telemedicine service platform by integrating AIoT applications with hospital applications.
Regarding data interoperability, he said: “We are working with the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan to build a middleware data platform using FHIR data standards. This enhances the interoperability of medical data between HIS systems and other healthcare organizations, while ensuring data security and privacy protection. It facilitates the flow of patient medical information, improving collaborative treatment outcomes between organizations.”
“We are continuously transforming CMUH into a smart, innovative and sustainable medical hospital. Our goal is not only to be at the forefront of technological applications but also to continuously innovate and undergo digital transformation. Through these efforts, we aim to provide more efficient, precise and humane medical services, ensuring that every patient benefits from the most advanced medical technologies and optimal treatment outcomes.”
