Implementation of Electronic Prescriptions: Building a Smart Healthcare Model in Taipei

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Taipei City United Hospital is piloting the implementation of electronic prescriptions, driven by policies for smart healthcare and digitalization in Taipei. The system aims for comprehensive process improvement, focusing on the core linkage between 'hospitals and community pharmacies.' Technically, the hospital has adapted to the National Health Insurance Administration's (NHIA) FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard. This involved structuring electronic medical records and issuing electronic prescriptions via QR codes. This breakthrough allows prescription information to be transmitted securely and instantly to local community pharmacies, overcoming previous technical hurdles in cross-system interoperability and data exchange. Operationally, the hospital collaborates with the Taipei Pharmacists Association to integrate local pharmacy resources, boosting service efficiency. A key feature is the 'Electronic Prescription Pharmacy Map,' which allows patients to search for nearby partner pharmacies and book pick-up times via mobile devices, significantly improving convenience and reducing wait times. Furthermore, this initiative reinforces the principle of professional separation between medicine and pharmacy ('consult a doctor when sick, find a pharmacist for medication'), enhancing drug safety while promoting green healthcare (environmental sustainability). The pilot's success in Taipei is expected to serve as a model for building a smart healthcare ecosystem in Taiwan, with plans for expansion into New Taipei City and full internal adoption. This represents a significant trend in medical information linkage and paperless promotion across Asia.