Staff-Led RPA Innovation Enhances Medical Records at SNUH
Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) has implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology within its Health Information Management team to automate repetitive administrative tasks and advance its hospital-wide digital transformation. Notably, the project involved in-house development and maintenance by frontline staff, positioning it as a pioneering model of citizen-led digital innovation in healthcare.
Targeted Automation Enhancing Both Accuracy and Efficiency
RPA was applied to nine key workflows, including medical record completeness audits and monthly statistical reporting. Approximately 11% of daily record management tasks were automated, resulting in a 70% reduction in processing time. Two statistical reporting tasks achieved full (100%) automation, improving both accuracy and turnaround time.
Prior to implementation, manual processes stemming from limitations in the hospital information system (HIS) were restructured. Using Python and data extracted from the hospital’s Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW), unstructured data were transformed and fed into the RPA system, allowing robust automation across diverse task types.
Staff-Driven Development and Operation
Staff members received technical training via a vendor-led bootcamp and have independently maintained the system since its go-live date on July 1, 2024. Operating within a low-code development environment, non-IT personnel took on the role of citizen developers—demonstrating that practical automation can be internally driven and sustainably maintained.
An internal satisfaction survey conducted in September 2024 recorded an average satisfaction score of 95 out of 100, with statistical automation rated the most favorably. Further expansion of RPA into other hospital departments, including the Pharmacy Division and Same-Day Surgery Center, is currently under consideration.
Quantifiable Gains and Expansion Potential
The RPA system has saved approximately 76.5 work hours per month—the equivalent of 0.43 full-time employees. These saved hours are being reallocated to higher-value activities such as research support, with expectations that broader adoption across departments will yield significant productivity gains.
Through this initiative, SNUH is advancing beyond technology deployment toward meaningful, staff-centered digital transformation, laying the groundwork for a smarter and more agile healthcare environment.