Taiwan to boost digital health capacity with HIMSS partnership
Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration and HIMSS recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further drive the country’s digital healthcare transformation.
Based on a press release, the MOU will focus on the following key areas: public health, digital capacity building, cybersecurity resilience and workforce development.
WHY IT MATTERS
This international partnership aims to transform Taiwan’s healthcare system into the ‘post-pandemic healthcare system of tomorrow’.
An evidence-based approach to building a digital health ecosystem will be needed, using the HIMSS Digital health indicator and digital maturity models.
The MOU also allows the NHIA to rely on HIMSS experts, thought leadership and advice in strengthening the cybersecurity of the healthcare system. It may also seek the assistance of HIMSS’s global analytics team, government relations team and cybersecurity partners to help manage data and systems risk.
In addition, NHIA and HIMSS will jointly offer localized and targeted workforce capacity building programs, including curated courses, professional certifications and accredited continuing education from globally renowned healthcare professionals, to help upskill the country’s workforce in digital healthcare.
THE BIG TREND
Over the years, major hospitals have been at the forefront of the digital transformation of healthcare in Taiwan. In terms of EMR maturity, several have been validated for Phase 6 and Phase 7 of the HIMSS Model for adoption of electronic health records (EMRAM), including the latest phase 7 rehabilitation from China Medical University Hospital (CMUH). Taiwan as a nation was also validated for Stage 7 EMRAM in 2019.
CMUH also proves the global competence of local hospitals in healthcare IT infrastructure and analytics; it recently became the first in the country to be validated for Phase 7 Infrastructure adoption model and phase 6 Analytics Maturity Adoption Model.
Meanwhile last year, the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan City was recognized as the second highest organization in the global HIMSS DHI.
ON THE RECORD
“The adoption of digital health is a critical step for Taiwan’s healthcare system to improve healthcare equity and patient outcomes. Through this partnership, the NHIA and HIMSS demonstrate an ongoing commitment to increasing patient access, better protecting patient data and training the healthcare workforce. Together, HIMSS and the NHIA will help transform healthcare in Taiwan,” HIMSS President and CEO Hal Wolf said in a statement.