Samsung Medical Center is the first South Korean healthcare provider to obtain a Stage 6 certification under the HIMSS Infrastructure Adoption Model. It is also gearing up for a Stage 7 certification, which will be a global first.

The tertiary hospital disclosed to Healthcare IT News that it has completed an infrastructure assessment through INFRAM. The eight-stage ladder helps healthcare leaders assess and map healthcare infrastructure and the technology capabilities needed to attain their infrastructure goals while meeting international benchmarks and standards set by the model. 

SMC claims to have pioneered the use of robots in the country's healthcare scene. Some of the work the hospital has done in this area include the rolling out of robots that automatically dispose of medical waste from operating rooms and an AI-enabled Smart Caregiver service that checks the conditions of elderly patients in real-time. It has also enabled real-time HD video analysis of surgeries by transmitting a huge amount of data via its 5G network.

WHY IT MATTERS

In its quest to become a "state-of-the-art intelligent hospital", SMC is promoting digital innovation by fulfilling a number innovation tasks, especially in the areas of medical treatment and logistics. One example is its consumer mobile app which is used by patients to enquire about treatment and examination schedule; apply for medical treatment; manage automatic payments of hospital expenses; download medical documents; and check their waiting status at outpatient clinics or examination rooms.

Through the INFRAM certification, SMC's infrastructure can support its digital innovations. A Stage 6 certification is given to organisations that have implemented a campus software-defined networking access capability and a software-defined network with automated validation of experience. Their traffic loads must be manipulated dynamically based on policy compliance monitoring. They must also have end-to-end visibility of service delivery in real-time; on-premise, enterprise-wide hybrid cloud application and infrastructure automation; and a self-service portal for IT use cases.

A health organisation with a weak infrastructure may struggle with digital transformation, according to HIMSS. The INFRAM model can be leveraged to enhance the person-enabled health and interoperability dimensions of digital health. 

SMC is also seeking to get certified for its EMR implementation and adoption through the HIMSS Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Recently, SMC has signed its second major deal with telecommunications firm KT Corporation to deploy robotic technologies in the hospital. According to a news report, some of these robots will be able to deliver blood across surgery operation rooms, perform disinfection, and bring medical items to doctors. The two organisations first partnered to put up a 5G network in the hospital last year.

ON THE RECORD

"The key to digital health is to successfully integrate medical systems and data into a robust and secure infrastructure. The HIMSS INFRAM and EMRAM certifications will enable our hospital's digital environment to advance to a global level."

Poong-Lyul Rhee, Head of Office of Data Innovation at SMC