Chen Zhongyang, CEO of PKU Healthcare IT: How to Build an Internet Hospital from In-Hospital Systems — Spotlight on Yinchuan

Signing Ceremony for Yinchuan Internet Healthcare Industry Project

On March 19, the historic city of Yinchuan took on a new character. To further amplify the impact of smart city initiatives in driving the growth of emerging industries and business models, to vigorously promote the favorable momentum of Yinchuan’s “Internet + Healthcare” industry, and to forge a cohesive internet hospital industrial cluster, the Yinchuan Municipal People’s Government decided to hold a Strategic Signing and Press Conference for Internet Hospitals. The event will facilitate the entry into Yinchuan of 15 internet hospital companies, including DXY (Dingxiang Yuan), Peking University Medical Information Technology, Chunyu Doctors, Medlinker, Hangxin Jinglian, Daxiang Doctor, Qilekang, Taoyibao, and Giant Network’s Healthcare Division.

Based on this, VCBeat interviewed Dr. Chen Zhongyang, CEO of Peking University Healthcare Information Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “PKU HealthInfo”), aiming to lift the veil on the internet hospital built by PKU HealthInfo in Yinchuan.

The partnership between Peking University Medical Information Technology (PKU MIIT) and Yinchuan dates back to October 2015. At that time, PKU MIIT collaborated with ZTE (Yinchuan) Smart Industry Co., Ltd. to launch the Yinchuan Smart Healthcare Project, enabling the sharing and access of patient health information across medical institutions at all levels within the Yinchuan region. Furthermore, these institutions achieved remote healthcare collaboration through the Population Health Information Platform.

Currently, Peking University Health Information Technology is actively assisting the Yinchuan Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission in upgrading and enhancing the services and resource repositories of its smart healthcare platform, in accordance with the latest national policies and standards. This initiative aims to further expand the sharing of medical resources and information interoperability across Yinchuan City. Meanwhile, regional collaborative operations centered on the Population Health Information Platform are being developed, while data associated with the platform is being fully utilized and mined to provide data-driven support for health policy decision-making in Yinchuan.

It is understood that Peking University Healthcare Information Technology (PKU HIT) is the first enterprise in China to engage in healthcare informatization, and also the first provider of healthcare IT solutions to successfully implement hospital information platforms and data centers. With the support of Peking University and Founder Group, PKU HIT has accumulated over 20 years of experience in Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) construction, possessing unique advantages in in-hospital systems, clinical workflows, and data management. Since last year, PKU HIT has comprehensively expanded into smart hospitals, regional health, and “Healthcare + Internet” sectors, establishing a comprehensive service system oriented toward hospitals, health administrative agencies, medical groups, and residents.

It is precisely due to its “Healthcare + Internet” business layout and its solid foundation of cooperation with Yinchuan that Peking University Healthcare Information Technology (PKU HIT) has decided to establish an internet hospital that serves the entire country while being headquartered in Yinchuan. Leveraging its advantages in online diagnosis and treatment platforms, operational management expertise, technical capabilities, and customer base, as well as the abundant medical resources of Peking University Healthcare, PKU HIT will carry out the operation and management of the internet hospital.

Chen Zhongyang, CEO of PKU Health Information 

Chen Zhongyang stated to VCBeat that the internet hospital built by Peking University Healthcare Information Technology (PKU HIT) will fully leverage its foundation in healthcare informatization, integrate medical client resources, and coordinate the hospital management and physician resources of Peking University Medical Industry Group. It aims to create a “four-in-one” “Peking University Medical Internet Hospital,” which is centered on public health, utilizes wearable devices and internet platforms as carriers, employs big data technology and cross-regional medical insurance settlement as means, and uses the population health information platform as a channel.

Meanwhile, Peking University Medical Information Technology will also help Yinchuan build an internet hospital model that aligns with local healthcare development characteristics, deeply integrating online and offline services as well as in-hospital and out-of-hospital care. This initiative aims to achieve comprehensive, round-the-clock coverage of internet-based medical services across multiple scenarios, thereby fully promoting the extension of services offered by the Peking University Healthcare Internet Hospital.

As a strategic partner of the Yinchuan Municipal Government, PKU Healthcare IT boasts extensive experience in the big data industry and abundant medical resources, backed by the talent and academic strengths of Peking University and Peking University Health Science Center. With four R&D bases, over 3,000 hospital users, and client support from more than 200 large Grade-A tertiary hospitals, it leverages the physician resources of PKU Healthcare Group to truly establish a branded physician team.

PKU Healthcare Internet Hospital Establishes Presence in Yinchuan, Bringing High-Quality Medical Resources and Advanced Academic Expertise to the Local Area. By leveraging four major systems—healthcare big data sharing, scientific research, services, and operations—it will support the sustainable development of Yinchuan’s local healthcare industry, foster a diversified landscape for the “Medical + Internet” sector, ensure the effective application of healthcare big data services, genuinely enhance residents’ health management and the service capabilities of healthcare institutions at all levels, and bridge the “last mile” gap in diagnosis and treatment services.

It is reported that the findings from special big data research projects conducted by PKU Healthcare IT in collaboration with multiple research institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and other cities will be fully leveraged in this partnership.

Although located in western China, Yinchuan has leveraged the policy advantages of “pilot initiatives” under the Ningxia Inland Open Economy Pilot Zone, partnered with renowned enterprises, and attracted talent and expertise, thereby positioning itself at the forefront of smart city development nationwide.

As one of the second batch of national pilot cities for healthcare reform, Yinchuan has launched its exploration of “Internet + Healthcare,” supported by big data and new Internet-based technologies, underpinned by policy innovation, and guided by the aim of improving people’s livelihoods. Last year, Yinchuan City issued the Regulatory System for Internet Medical Institutions, the Administrative Rules for Yinchuan Internet Hospitals, and the Administrative Measures for Yinchuan Internet Hospitals.

As part of this collaboration, Yinchuan City has introduced several supportive policies for internet hospitals, including designating internet hospitals as designated medical insurance providers, fully integrating e-prescriptions with pharmacies under the medical insurance system, allowing the use of personal medical insurance accounts to pay for online consultation fees, granting internet hospitals the authority to conduct professional title evaluations, and launching a pilot program that permits the use of pooled medical insurance funds to cover online consultation fees at selected internet hospitals within specified regions and spending limits.

"This is the most comprehensive regulatory framework for internet hospital management in China, as well as the policy support system with the greatest innovation and strongest backing. 'It is precisely because these carefully cultivated phoenix trees have been planted that so many phoenixes have come to roost,' said Chen Zhongyang." 

In fact, as a veteran health information technology (HIT) enterprise, Peking University Medical Information enjoys significant advantages in both providing traditional healthcare service solutions and building internet hospitals under its “healthcare + internet” strategy.

“To be honest, as an IT company specializing in healthcare informatization, we have our own resources and advantages. Leveraging our understanding of in-hospital diagnosis and treatment workflows, along with internet-based thinking and information technology solutions, we help hospitals develop software applications such as mobile apps and WeChat mini-programs, thereby facilitating deep engagement between doctors and patients,” said Chen Zhongyang.

“PKU Healthcare IT has always been a healthcare informatics company. ‘In the realm of internet hospitals, PKU Healthcare IT primarily focuses on informatics and operational support, while medical services rely more heavily on our affiliated group, PKU Healthcare, as well as our extensive base of hospital clients,’ Chen Zhongyang stated candidly.”

For Chen Zhongyang, the original intention behind establishing Peking University Medical Internet Hospital was to genuinely facilitate the implementation of patient-centered healthcare reform policies, ensuring that people in China no longer find high-quality medical resources out of reach due to factors such as distance.

“We aim to truly initiate our efforts from within hospitals, leveraging our proprietary technological capabilities and customer base to develop and operate internet hospitals. Coupled with the abundant medical resources of Peking University Medical Group, this synergy significantly strengthens our competitive advantage.”

Chen Zhongyang stated that he hopes to establish a diversified landscape of internet hospitals in Yinchuan, propelling the city’s smart healthcare and “healthcare + internet” initiatives into a new stage of development and fostering a harmonious, win-win industrial ecosystem.