HONG KONG: It won't be that long before people in Hong Kong will be able to take their lifelong medical records with them when they go to a doctor. An electronic health record (eHR) sharing system aiming to remove the boundaries between different healthcare professions is being prepared for introduction to Hong Kong within the next few years.

The 2-step roadmap for Hong Kong's eHR development, which intends to be both city-wide and patient-oriented, is to have the eHR sharing platform ready for the first stage sometime in either 2013 to 2014. It will connect with all public and private hospitals. It will have electronic medical/patient records and other health information available that will enable private doctors, clinics and other health service providers to connect to the eHR sharing platform.

The second stage aims to expand the coverage of the eHR sharing system among healthcare providers and the public.

"With the development of eHR, patients' health information can be shared instantaneously. That will in turn enable provision of the appropriate and most timely treatments to our patients. Also, eHR reduces errors and unplanned admissions of patients and saves documentation time by medical professionals, which will in turn enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare to patients," said Secretary for Food and Health York Chow. He made his remarks at the launch of the first stage of the eHR Engagement Initiative (EEI) invitation exercise.

The concept of eHR sharing system is to connect patients and doctors, with the purpose of increasing the quality of care, lowering the cost of care and providing more access to health care for under-served populations. With eHR, all patient medical information is put online and authorized doctors are able to review past prescriptions, testing or diagnosis. Meanwhile, patients are given more control of their own healthcare.

General Manger of GE's Healthcare IT, Clarence Wu, said it was the trend for governments to invest more money into eHR. It's the healthcare standard for the future, he predicted.

"The Hong Kong government plans to spend HK$700 million to develop an advanced eHR sharing system, and the mainland intends to invest 850 billion yuan in its on-going medical sector reform, of which we expect 1 to 5 percent will go to eHR investment," said Wu.

(HK Edition 10/09/2009 page1)