Zhongshan Hospital was one of the best medical institutions in China, maintaining a leading position in domestic rankings thanks to its extensive capabilities. From 1992, the hospital leveraged information systems to efficiently manage daily operations. In recent years, amid sweeping digital transformation across Chinese hospitals, Zhongshan Hospital pioneered the development of a smart hospital. Achieving this vision required investment and a robust organizational framework. Three pillars thus underpinned this initiative: patient-friendly healthcare, functional resource management, and smart business management.
In February 2022, Shanghai entrusted Zhongshan Hospital with the critical task of shaping the future of hospitals. This served as the primary focus of this case study. Building on its previous accomplishments, the hospital faced three significant challenges:
1. How would Zhongshan Hospital define its own “hospital of the future?” The definition should be applicable to all hospitals for future implementation.
2. How should it realize this goal using its experience to build a smart hospital?
3. How would the smart hospital initiative help digital transformation become part of industry culture, especially in changing how people think and behave?