A consortium of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital분당서울대병원 (SNUBH), SK Telecomsk텔레콤 and EZCareTech이지케어텍 has successfully exported its integrated hospital information system (HIS) to the United States following the Middle East, the hospital said Thursday.

Under the 24-billion won ($20 million) contract signed with Aurora Behavioral Healthcare of the U.S., the consortium will build the hospital information system called “Best Care 2.0B” in the group’s 14 hospitals, starting with Aurora Charter Oak Hospital, Calif., which began services for users on July 22.

Since last December, the consortium has dispatched a team of about 20 doctors, nurses, and developers to the U.S., for the development of Best Care 2.0B, which fully complies with local processes to reflect U.S. healthcare regulations and user requirements.

Best Care 2.0B has added specialized modules and functions such as dictation and group therapy in consideration of its psychiatric characteristics. The consortium has also materialized essential electronic prescription in its U.S. project, though it is not allowed in Korea.

"I am very impressed with the fact that Korean medical information system, the high value added industry as the fusion of medical and IT, is being exported to the U.S. market where the competition is most competitive, and entry barriers are high,” said Jheon Sang-hoo전상후, president of SNUBH. “I will not hesitate to give our hospital’s full support to the project.”

Wee Won-ryang 위원량, EZCareTech’s CEO, was equally upbeat. "EZCareTech will launch aggressive marketing strategies by establishing a localization approach for U.S businesses in 2017, employing analysts and engineers in the U.S.”

A U.S. executive also expressed his optimism. "With the introduction of Best Care 2.0B, which is internationally recognized as the highest ranking hospital information system, Aurora Hospital Group is expected to become an advanced medical institution in North America with optimal medical IT environment," said Todd Smith, CEO of Aurora Charter Oak Hospital.

Copyright © KBR Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution prohibited