Raphael Thys
One of South Korea's largest healthcare providers, Samsung Medical Center, has taken its first step toward becoming a robot-driven hospital powered by 5G technology.
The tertiary hospital disclosed to Healthcare IT News that it is undergoing an infrastructure assessment through the HIMSS Infrastructure Adoption Model (INFRAM) to secure a Stage 6 certification. The eight-stage ladder assists 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 has mentioned that it will follow up soon with its Stage 7 certification, the highest attainable credential in the maturity model. Meanwhile, it 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, disinfection robots, and automated guided vehicles that bring medical items to doctors. The two organisations first partnered to put up a 5G network in the hospital last year.
ON THE RECORD
"Digital transformation, the key to digital healthcare, means to effectively place medical systems and data on a stable and secure infrastructure. The HIMSS' INFRAM and EMRAM certifications will serve as an opportunity for our hospital's digital environment to leap to the global level," said Dr Cha Won Cheol, director of the SMC Digital Innovation Centre.