Korea’s largest hospital receives first phase 6 of new INFRAM from APAC
Seoul-based Asan Medical Center (AMC) has been validated for Phase 6 of the new HIMSS Infrastructure Adoption Model (INFRAM).
The new INFRAM, introduced in March, assesses an organization’s infrastructure maturity based on cybersecurity, adoption, sustainability, performance and outcomes. The previous framework evaluated healthcare organizations in the areas of mobility, security, collaboration, transportation and data centers.
Established in 1989, the 2,765-bed hospital is the largest hospital in South Korea, serving approximately 13,000 patients daily. It is also the teaching hospital of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
AMC underwent the INFRAM assessment to measure the maturity of its IT infrastructure. Teams under the AMC Digital Information Innovation headquarters worked with various departments of the hospital during this process, leveraging HIMSS guidelines and resources to streamline the validation process.
Following the assessment, HIMSS validators commended AMC for creating a “culture of security management excellence,” which was evident in its incident response plans, cybersecurity awareness program, network integrity and physical asset management, and several third-party certifications, including the Korea Information Security Management System (K-ISMS).
They also highlighted that AMC uses Robotic Process Automation (RPA) as part of its investment management.
Through the Hospital Workflow Automation project, the hospital implemented RPA to automate repetitive tasks, streamline operations, and free up staff to focus on critical tasks. Launched in 2021, it has saved over 10,587 hours of staff time and over $315 million in operational costs.
“The RPA usage case study is an example of how (the hospital) has leveraged technology to improve operational efficiency and accuracy. By automating repetitive tasks, AMC has streamlined processes and freed up resources for more strategic activities,” said Andrew Pearce, HIMSS Vice President of Analytics and Global Advisory Lead.
AMC now plans to further enhance its IT investments to provide an improved digital experience for both patients and staff. It also aims to implement cloud technology to optimize its digital environment.
THE BIGGER TREND
The validation of AMC follows a recent Validation of Seoul National University Hospital’s Phase 6 for the previous iteration of the INFRAM. Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou and India’s Apollo Hospitals are also currently validated for the same phase in the previous framework.
ON THE RECORD
“AMC has embarked on a strategic journey to modernize its applications, data, infrastructure and governance, with the goal of building a sustainable IT environment. The HIMSS certification was a critical milestone, bringing international recognition for the security, efficiency and forward-thinking approach of our IT environment. This achievement will be critical in shaping our future digital transformation strategies,” said Professor Sang-Oh Lee, Director of Digital Information Innovation Headquarters at AMC, on the validation process for the updated HIMSS INFRAM.
“Looking ahead, we aim to enhance our IT investment management system to deliver tangible digital experiences for our staff and patients. By improving operational efficiency, we hope to create a virtuous cycle. In addition, we plan to invest in advanced technologies such as cloud computing to foster a sustainable IT ecosystem and maintain an optimal digital environment,” he added.