Analysis on Digitalization of Radiography as a Model for Spreading Electronic Medical Record Systems

Abstract

 It is necessary to give hospitals and clinics certain money incentive such as medical insurance to spread the electronic medical record (EMR) systems. The additional charge for radiography digitalization is one of medical insurance to relate to medical information systems. In this study, we investigated the transition of number of the digitalization by using statistic data published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and found that the digitalization has been spreading rapidly since 1996, when the additional charge was increased, and the digital format of radiography was standardized in the end of the previous year. Additionally, we found that there are strong correlations between the total amount of the additional charge and the domestic market size of medical image network systems. Therefore it should be necessary to cause appropriate additional charges, and the standardization of the system, to spread the EMR systems to medical facilities.