Leveraging Internet and Big Data Technologies to Build Core Competitiveness for Hospital Departments

The concept of “core competence” was first proposed by American scholars C.K. Prahalad and G. Hamel. It refers to a unique set of technologies or capabilities possessed by an enterprise (individual or nation) that helps it succeed in fierce external competition and is difficult for competitors to imitate. Core competence is a combination of skills and technologies embedded within the enterprise and integrated with its organization. It stems from collective learning rather than any single, isolated skill or technology, and it is not dependent on any individual.

Theoretical explanations are often convoluted and abstract, but they become easier to understand when contextualized within the core competencies of hospital departments. The core competitiveness of a hospital department is primarily reflected in three areas: hospital resources, patient reputation, and professional reputation.Hospital resources encompass human, financial, and material assets. “Human” resources refer to highly qualified, well-educated, and skilled physicians, who constitute the core asset of a hospital. “Financial” resources require little elaboration; every aspect of hospital operations and development relies on substantial financial support. For hospitals, “material” resources extend beyond mere financial manifestations to include medical records, case files, and accumulated clinical and administrative experience. The renowned “Three Treasures” of Peking Union Medical College Hospital—its library, medical records, and senior professors—exemplify high-quality hospital resources.Since healthcare services do not involve tangible products, hospitals rely to some extent on reputation, which comprises both substance and name. “Substance” refers to solid clinical expertise and academic capability, built through steady, step-by-step accumulation. “Name” refers to patient reputation and professional reputation. As the saying goes, “Gold and silver trophies are not as valuable as the public’s praise.” Patient reputation is built upon the healthcare experiences of countless patients, serving as the most direct reflection of a hospital’s diagnostic, therapeutic, and service capabilities, and directly influencing patients’ choices when seeking care. Professional reputation, on the other hand, is based on the department’s specialized skills and represents an objective evaluation by peers in the healthcare community regarding the department’s academic and clinical competencies.

From this perspective, the core competitiveness of a hospital department is multifaceted and rich in connotation. Enhancing this competitiveness requires a multi-pronged approach and is by no means an easy task. Currently, internet and big data technologies, which have garnered significant attention, may serve as powerful tools for hospital departments to boost their core competitiveness.

Many people may still perceive hospital websites merely as platforms for publishing institutional news, but this landscape has subtly shifted in recent years. Numerous hospitals now leverage their websites to offer a variety of functions, including online Q&A, surgical appointment and referral services, applications for charitable assistance programs, patient satisfaction surveys, and remote consultations. The surgical appointment and referral platform at Fuwai Hospital is particularly distinctive. Patients can submit their information online; upon review, the hospital notifies them of their scheduled visit time and guarantees at least one appointment with a specialist, providing direct access to expert care without the need for personal connections or purchasing tickets from scalpers. Peking University Cancer Hospital has gone further by launching a mobile app that enables users to check physician availability and cancellations, register for appointments, search departments and specialists, view laboratory test results, consult online, enroll in clinical trials, and access health information. Beyond enhancing the patient experience through digital tools, Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems help reduce medication errors and adverse drug events, thereby improving patient safety. Internet-based self-management tools assist patients in improving treatment outcomes and reducing adverse reactions, which is especially significant in the management of chronic diseases. As treatment efficacy improves and services are enhanced, patient satisfaction naturally rises, leading to positive word-of-mouth and strengthening the reputation of hospital departments.

With the development of the Internet, it has become easier for the general public to access medical information. Some patients even search online for information about hospitals and departments before each visit. However, one type of information remains particularly difficult to obtain: “peer evaluation.” Although peer reviews of a hospital or department are confined to a small professional circle, they constitute the foundation of its reputation and have a significant impact on its future development. Hospitals and departments with strong reputations in the industry invariably excel not only in solid clinical skills but also in scientific research and academic exchange. Clinical research and academic communication are largely based on medical records. The aggregation and multidimensional analysis of large volumes of medical record data using big data technology to derive conclusions represent a major breakthrough in modern medical research. Such research no longer relies on experimental animals such as rabbits and mice, nor on a handful of isolated case records; instead, it identifies patterns from extensive patient populations and clinical practice, yielding undeniable clinical value. Academic exchanges and collaborations within the industry often serve as comprehensive showcases of medical record analysis, allowing hospitals and departments to learn from one another while demonstrating their capabilities. Those who can collect valuable medical records, extract more information from limited cases, and provide high-quality treatment plans will earn positive recognition from their peers. Existing Internet technologies have matured in the collection and sharing of medical records, proving to be useful tools for clinical research and peer communication.

In the accumulation of data assets, internet and big data technologies also hold significant potential. Data assets include medical records, statistics on diagnosis and treatment workflows, collaborative networks for scientific research and teaching, and management data related to medical practice, education, and research. Broadly speaking, they also encompass a hospital’s library and information resources, technological information networks, and the content of various rules and regulations. By leveraging the internet and big data, hospitals can not only classify, organize, and automatically process data information, providing corresponding alerts and recommendations based on such data, but also achieve synchronized information sharing among teams. This facilitates the provision of convenient and accurate diagnostic and treatment plans for patients, improves hospital operational efficiency, and simultaneously accumulates valuable intangible assets for the hospital. The analysis and utilization of data assets are highly beneficial for both business development and management improvement.

At this point, Xingshulin’s product, “Medical Record Folder,” serves as an excellent assistant. By downloading the “Medical Record Folder” client onto their smartphones, physicians can conveniently save patient medical records anytime and anywhere, with cloud synchronization capabilities. Furthermore, doctors can use voice recognition to convert spoken words into text by speaking into their phones, and they can also take photos of X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images to upload them directly into the “Medical Record Folder.” The platform also enables physicians to share and discuss cases with one another. Additionally, “Medical Record Folder” features follow-up management functionality; by connecting with patients via WeChat, doctors can customize personalized follow-up plans, thereby streamlining follow-up processes and enhancing doctor-patient communication. In January 2015, “Medical Record Folder” became the first mobile app in China used for clinical follow-up research. Dr. Li Qiang’s team from the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University published their findings in a core journal under the Chinese Medical Association series. The study demonstrated that using “Medical Record Folder” to manage patients after femoral shaft fracture surgery effectively reduced healthcare costs while improving medical efficiency and patient satisfaction. “Medical Record Folder” continues to support physicians and enhance the core competitiveness of hospital departments.

This article is republished by VCBeat with authorization from Zhang Yusheng. The views expressed are those of the author alone and do not represent the position of VCBeat. Zhang Yusheng, M.D., is the founder of Xingshulin.