KMUH is the first hospital in southern Taiwan to achieve Stage Seven
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (高雄醫學大學附設中和紀念醫院) announced in mid-September 2025, that it has now been validated at Stage 7 of the HIMSS Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM), the highest level in the international eight-stage system measuring hospitals’ use of electronic medical records.
Essentially, EMRAM is a maturity scale for hospital digitalization. A Stage 7 hospital doesn’t only use electronic records, but also leverages data and digital systems to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, efficiency, and long-term health planning.
KMUH is the first hospital in southern Taiwan to achieve Stage 7 and the seventh nationwide, joining institutions such as Taichung Veterans General Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, and Changhua Christian Hospital.
Hospital officials said the achievement came after years of work. The hospital now uses AI tools for early patient deterioration detection, ICU workload prediction, rehabilitation coordination, and precision prescribing.
Superintendent Dr. Jaw-Yuan Wang (王照元) said challenges included persuading staff to consistently adopt new digital tools and ensuring data quality and security across platforms. “We addressed this through continuous training, leadership engagement, and a hospital-wide data governance framework,” he said.
The validation highlighted KMUH’s new Intelligent Decision Support System for antithrombotic medications, which boosted compliance with treatment guidelines and reduced surgical risks. The hospital also revamped its trauma response system after the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions, creating a model now recognized nationally.
Officials said the upgrades have reduced medication errors, cut diagnostic turnaround times, improved bed management, and given patients more access to their records and telemedicine services.
