Internet: Shanghai plans to launch e-health program|
Jun 28
2012
|
Internet: Shanghai plans to launch e-health programPosted by: China Media LAB on Jun 28, 2012   |
 |
SHANGHAI will soon launch a website for residents to get health check results and medical records for the past year under an e-health program, the Shanghai Health Bureau said yesterday.
People will also be able to make appointments on the website, which will be in Chinese and English.
Under the program, hospitals will also be able to share information about patients to prevent unnecessary health checks, which will help patients save time and money. The complete medical history of patients will also be available for doctors, health officials said.
"Patients will be able to get their health check results at home instead of going to the crowded hospitals," said Xu Jianguang, director of the Shanghai Health Bureau. "Doctors will be able to make a more accurate diagnosis and provide better treatment if they know a patient's medical history."
To ensure a smooth launch of the service, a special health card will be distributed to everyone in the city that uses public hospitals. The card will be used for health service registration, treatment and payment. It will also record all personal medical information.
Xie Hua from Shanghai Health Bureau's information center said: "The system is under trial in six districts and will be promoted all over the city, gradually covering nearly 600 state-owned hospitals."
So far, the trial has collected 700 million pieces of medical information from nearly 30 million patients, including locals and people who come from out-of-town for treatment in Shanghai, which often has better facilities and doctors.
"Information about residents will also be used by community hospitals for chronic disease management and control and to establish a health database for each person," Xie said.
Seniors and people with chronic diseases like the idea of the e-health program.
An 80-year-old woman identified as Zhang said community hospital doctors visit her at home regularly.
She said they use a portable device to record her condition and prescribe medicines for her diabetes and hypertension. The medicines are then delivered to her home by nurses within two hours, added Zhang.
