Electronic medical records, as the name suggests, refer to the digital recording of patient medical record contents, replacing the traditional paper-based medical record system.
Traditional paper medical records serve not only as records of patient medical conditions but also as legally binding documents. Therefore, medical personnel must personally sign and seal paper records upon completion to assume responsibility.
In the era of electronic medical records, records have been digitized, making traditional signatures and seals impossible. Instead, medical personnel must use digital signatures after completing electronic medical records to identify the author and encrypt the document to prevent tampering. Currently, the most commonly used signing tool in Taiwan is the medical personnel IC card. Once a digitized medical record is signed with an IC card, it becomes an official electronic medical record.
After the passage of the Electronic Signatures Act in Taiwan, the Department of Health began actively promoting the adoption of electronic medical records at hospitals. This hospital received approval from the Kaohsiung City Health Bureau to implement electronic medical records in December 2009. The hospital is currently actively expanding the scope of electronic medical record implementation, with the goal of becoming a fully electronic medical record hospital as soon as possible.
