Digital Transformation Enables Precision Medicine: Standardization of EHR and FHIR Use in 81 Hospitals

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This article reports on a case study of transitioning towards precision medicine utilizing digital transformation (DX). Specifically, it is reported that standardization of electronic health records (EHR) has progressed in 81 hospitals in Taiwan, and the FHIR standard is being applied to drug usage data for liver cancer treatment. This initiative aims to achieve highly accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment planning by enabling seamless data linkage among multiple medical institutions. Standardizing EHRs is crucial for solving the problem of inconsistent data formats across different systems and hospitals. By utilizing international standards like FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), drug information and patient data can be structured, enhancing interoperability. This expands the scope of usable medical data, aiding in research and public health policy formulation. In the context of healthcare IT in Japan, this case serves as a reference for building advanced care systems involving multiple stakeholders, such as regional collaborative paths or telemedicine. Using standardized data formats (FHIR) enables information exchange across different vendors and systems, which is key to achieving truly 'seamless care.'