Global trends in internet hospitals and electronic prescriptions: Insights for China

Objectives This study aims to review the research status of Internet hospitals and electronic prescriptions, identify associated research hotspots and frontiers, understand global application progress, and inform future research and development directions in China. Methods The literature was obtained via the online Science Citation Index-Expanded section of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The search terms included variations of “Internet hospital” and “electronic prescription.” After screening titles and abstracts, 248 publications were selected. CiteSpace was used for bibliometric and visual analysis, identifying annual publication trends, collaboration networks, and keywords with strong citation bursts. Results The analysis revealed fluctuating growth in annual publications, with a significant increase in the 2020s due to COVID-19. In the domain under analysis, the US and Harvard Medical School emerged as the most prominent contributors, high-frequency keywords identified were patient safety, digital health, healthcare management, and prevalence. Key findings indicated active cooperation among institutions within the USA or Europe but limited collaboration between USA, Europe, and Asia. Internet hospitals and electronic prescriptions were found to significantly enhance patient safety and healthcare quality during public health emergencies. Conclusions The research identified a lack of effective collaboration among nations, organizations, and contributors, with primary trends focusing on patient safety, digital health, healthcare management, and prevalence. Researchers in China are encouraged to focus on how Internet hospital electronic prescribing can improve patient safety, assist in the health management of special populations, and leverage their strengths during large epidemics.