Case Study: VinBrain and 108 Military Central Hospital harness AI for hospital data management, paving the way for smart healthcare

Background 

As one of Vietnam's top-tier general hospitals, 108 Military Central Hospital (108 Hospital) serves over a million patients each year, supported by nearly 3,000 healthcare professionals. However, despite its impressive capacity, the hospital's IT infrastructure had limitations. Managing vast amounts of data from various departments proved challenging, as the data lacked synchronization, and processing it efficiently was difficult. In response to these challenges, 108 Hospital partnered with VinBrain to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in their healthcare data digitization efforts. 

108 Military Central Hospital is one of Vietnam's top-tier general hospitals

Challenges in effective medical data management: 108 Hospital’s need for a comprehensive solution 

Before adopting AI, 108 Hospital faced three major challenges in managing its medical data: 

1. Fragmentation and lack of synchronization: Medical data was scattered across various departments, making it difficult to access and analyze when needed, which negatively impacted clinical decision-making and hospital management. 

1. Limited data processing capabilities: The traditional IT systems were not powerful enough to quickly and efficiently handle the massive volumes of data, slowing down decision-making processes. 

1. Data security: Ensuring the safety and privacy of medical data has always been a priority for 108 Hospital, particularly as they move toward comprehensive digital transformation. 

Mr. Jonathan T. Fried, former Ambassador of Canada to Japan and WTO, VinBrain Advisory Board pointed out, “Whether you're in Vietnam, Malaysia or America, the healthcare system is in desperate need of streamlining, so the next big opportunity for AI to make a significant difference is to free up resources.” 

To overcome these hurdles and streamline its data management processes, 108 Hospital collaborated with VinBrain to pilot and implement advanced AI technology. But the real question was: How would VinBrain integrate AI into the hospital’s data management, and what steps would both parties take to maximize the potential of this new system? 

Implementing AI in medical data management: How VinBrain and 108 Hospital are changing the game 

In May 2024, after successful pilot trials in selected departments, VinBrain and 108 Hospital officially launched AI-driven data management solutions, developed by VinBrain, across key departments. The hospital’s Nuclear Medicine, Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Neurology Departments were among the first to adopt DrAid™ Enterprise Data Solution - an AI platform designed to optimize hospital data management and support clinical workflows. Additionally, DrAid™ CXR Screening, the first FDA-cleared solution in Southeast Asia for detecting pneumothorax, had already been implemented at the hospital, enabling doctors to identify 54 abnormalities on chest X-rays with over 91% accuracy. 

Key features of DrAid™ Enterprise Data Solution

Major General Prof. Dr. Lê Hữu Song, Director of 108 Hospital, remarked: “We are very busy with the daily demands of clinical care, making it challenging to dedicate time to research new technologies. Therefore, collaboration between both parties can facilitate the development of immediately applicable technological solutions for the hospital”. 

Results: Enhanced data management efficiency at 108 Hospital  

"By applying speech-to-text technology for report creation, we can first save resources by eliminating the need for a typist. Second, radiologists can immediately document their findings through the software's report, allowing them to check results instantly and make conclusions on the spot," shared Dr. Mai Huy Thông from the Nuclear Medicine Department of 108 Hospital. He added, " According to our hospital's trial results, AI achieved a character conversion accuracy rate of nearly 85%". 

To date, the adoption of DrAid™ Enterprise Data Solution at 108 Hospital has led to significant improvements. Before this solution, the hospital struggled with fragmented and manually processed medical data, which was time-consuming and inefficient. Now, with DrAid™, data standardization happens quickly and accurately. What once took nearly a decade to process manually can now be completed in just 9 months and 20 days, thanks to the AI system’s ability to process millions of data points per second. 

"Transforming raw data into valuable knowledge is the core value of comprehensive digital transformation," affirmed Steven Truong, Founder and CEO of VinBrain. 

The screen of EMR summary feature (DrAid™ Copilot, a 24/7 virtual medical assistant, automatically provides information on demand)

Moreover, doctors have noticed a substantial improvement in their administrative tasks. Previously, documenting and processing information for each case could take 4 to 5 minutes. With DrAid™'s automation features, this time has been reduced to just 40-60 seconds, with over 90% accuracy. This allows doctors to focus more on patient care. 

Using AI technology not only helps the hospital optimize processes but also ensures the utmost security for sensitive medical data. DrAid™’s cloud-based system, built on Microsoft Azure, offers multiple layers of advanced protection, safeguarding data and effectively preventing information leaks or cyberattacks. This robust security is crucial as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare systems. 

Although the journey to fully digitize hospital management and medical workflows remains lengthy, particularly for large institutions like 108 Hospital, AI is already accelerating the process, making it more efficient and comprehensive. The promising initial results demonstrate that AI is delivering tangible benefits. As AI capabilities expand, its positive impact on healthcare will grow, with larger-scale implementations on the horizon. VinBrain and 108 Hospital will continue to collaborate closely to ensure that these AI advancements benefit not only the doctors but also the patients. This partnership is paving the way for smarter, more integrated healthcare systems in Vietnam!