Seoul National University Hospital and its affiliate hospitals have recently come together to streamline their data model platforms, marking a significant step towards enhancing collaboration and research within the medical community. The newly consolidated platform, which is cloud-based, is an essential component of the One SNUH Network initiative. This initiative aims to facilitate data analysis and research by bringing together the resources of SNUH, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH), and Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center.
Expanding on the foundation laid by SNUH’s previous big data platform, the new Common Data Model (CDM) platform now synchronizes medical databases from the three hospitals. This comprehensive database covers approximately 6.85 million individuals and includes crucial information such as visit occurrences, diagnoses, procedures, drug exposures, and measurements. By integrating patient group characteristics from all three sources, the platform aims to minimize analysis bias and provide more accurate insights.
One key aspect of the consolidated platform is its focus on data security. The platform is CSAP (Cloud Security Assurance Program) certified and can only be accessed through a virtual desktop infrastructure. Additionally, any data imports or exports require prior approval from the administrator to prevent potential data leakage.
The decision to consolidate the data model platforms of the three hospitals was driven by the need to enable large-scale studies and collaborations across the SNUH network. Since the launch of the consolidated platform in December, researchers at SNUH now have unrestricted access to data from the entire hospital group. Moreover, external partner researchers, including pharmaceutical companies, can also benefit from this open access.
Dr. Young-Tae Kim, a key figure in the project, emphasized the importance of this integrated CDM platform as the first step towards implementing the One SNUH Network. This platform is expected to serve as a cornerstone for data integration and sharing, ultimately contributing to the advancement of medical care in South Korea.
In addition to the CDM platform, SNUH’s research environment comprises a GPU cluster, a specialized data platform known as NSTRI, the CDW research system SUPREME, and DeView, a viewer for pseudonymized medical records. Last year, the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare designated SNUH as the lead research institute for promoting national strategic technologies as mandated by the National Strategic Technology Promotion Act.
To further bolster its research capabilities, SNUH recently established the Healthcare AI Research Center. Through this center, the hospital aims to develop AI-driven medical systems, data platforms, and diagnostic tools. In a groundbreaking move, SNUH introduced the first medical large language model in Korean earlier this year. Additionally, SNUBH, an affiliate hospital, is also working on an AI-powered mission control center to streamline access to data for supporting clinical decision-making.
With these innovative initiatives and collaborative efforts, Seoul National University Hospital and its affiliate hospitals are at the forefront of advancing medical research and technology in South Korea.
