Integrating modern technology with Traditional Chinese Medicine, sharing information across Hong Kong

This paper serves to share Hong Kong´s experience in the modernization of traditional Chinese Medicine through application of modern technology. CMIS, short for Chinese Medicine Information System, is a comprehensive computerized clinical management system which supports and assists clinical and non-clinical staff with their daily workflow at the clinics. The seven modules: registration and appointment, billing, assessment, consultation, dispensing and inventory management, clinical intelligence as well as management reports work together to consolidate all the real-time information related to the operation of a Chinese medicine clinic. Record sharing was made possible through this centralized CMIS system. At the moment CMIS serves 16 clinics across Hong Kong. Two new Chinese Medicine Center for Training and Research (CMCTRs) managed under tripartite collaboration agreement among Hospital Authority, local universities and local NGOs are scheduled to be established during 2013-2015. Eventually there will be 18 CMCTRs in total. Serving one CMCTR in every district in Hong Kong, CMIS paves the path to future patient-centered electronic health record (eHR).