Wemex offers cloud-based medical receipt/EMR system on Azure to aid 100% EMR adoption

Fully cloud-based EMR system to simplify installation for small clinics

Electronic medical records (EMR) empower healthcare providers through improved operational efficiency, information sharing, and patient care by seamlessly integrating with past medical data. Wemex has been a leader in Japan’s EMR market for over 25 years under its Medicom brand. In addition, Wemex also provides medical-receipt computers and pharmacy management support systems. The company has driven digital transformation (DX) in healthcare, with over 50,000 medical institutions and pharmacies adopting its online eligibility verification systems.

In April 2025, Wemex launched Medicom Cloud-Based EMR, its first fully cloud-based EMR system integrated with medical-receipt computer*¹. This new solution complements its existing lineup of on-premises EMR and hybrid EMR systems. 

“Since 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has promoted its ‘Healthcare DX Reiwa Vision 2030,’ which aims to achieve 80 percent of EMR adoption in Japanese clinics by 2026 and 100 percent by 2030,” says Kinya Matsunaga, Section Manager of the Product Management Department at Wemex. “However, as of 2023, only 55 percent^*2 of clinics had adopted EMR.” Matsunaga recognized the need for new initiatives to encourage the remaining clinics to introduce EMR by 2030.

<Footnotes>
^*1 Medical-receipt computer: A system used in medical institutions to generate itemized invoices for medical services.
 ^*2 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Trends in the Uptake of Electronic Medical Record Systems”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10800000/000938782.pdf

“EMR adoption has progressed in large hospitals, but small clinics still have significant room for growth,” continues Matsunaga. “Younger doctors considering opening their clinics tend to prefer cloud-based services, and recently, even clinics using paper medical records are increasingly opting for the cloud when looking into digitalization. Previously, we offered hybrid EMR systems that combined the customizability of on-premises setups with the cloud benefits, such as flexibility in location and device usage. However, to accelerate adoption, we needed a fully cloud-based system with an intuitive, user-friendly UI with easy implementation.”

Wemex began planning its new solution in April 2022. By January 2023, the company had initiated development preparations, including discussions on design concepts and market research. As part of this effort, Wemex surveyed over 200 and interviewed more than 30 medical practitioners.

In October 2023, Wemex launched a company-wide project to develop Medicom Cloud EMR. Pre-orders, which also served as validation tests, began in October 2024.  After receiving over 300 product demonstration requests, the new system officially launched on April 1, 2025.

Why Wemex chose Azure: Compatibility and Comprehensive support

Wemex selected Azure as the cloud platform for Medicom Cloud EMR. Yoshiharu Hashimoto, Senior Tech Lead from Wemex Healthcare IT, outlines two primary reasons below.

 “Azure aligned with our existing skill set—we mainly use C# to develop EMR in a .NET environment. This cloud migration involved most of our desktop development engineers, making it essential to use a familiar environment. Also, we were already using Azure for some of our other services, which made integration straightforward.”

According to Hashimoto, the system employs standard three-tier web architecture. “Backend applications run on Azure App Services, supported by data stores such as Azure Cache for Redis, Azure Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL, and Azure Blob Storage.”

The system also uses Azure Active Directory B2C for user authentication, Entra ID for permission management, and Azure API Management for API control. Azure Functions enable asynchronous backend processing. 

Given the stringent security requirements of medical institutions, the system ensures secure data isolation through Azure Virtual Network, utilizes the Web Application Firewall (WAF) feature of Azure Application Gateway, manages credentials with Azure Key Vault, and performs virus scans on Azure Blob. Additionally, Azure Application Insights, Azure Monitor, and Azure Log Analytics are used for log analytics.

“With Azure’s broad product lineup, we have nearly every tool and service needed to bring new ideas to life,” says Hashimoto. “For example, leveraging Microsoft Entra ID to build a robust authentication platform enhances security while significantly streamlining user management. The availability of these features enabled us to meet our security requirements while reducing operational workloads. Additionally, Azure’s superior flexibility and scalability make it easy to adapt to changes in project size or requirements.”

Wemex also valued Microsoft's exceptional support.

“Quick and precise support for technical challenges and inquiries is crucial for a smooth project progress,” says Hashimoto. “For instance, to work on performance tuning, Microsoft assembled a task force of .NET and PostgreSQL experts who provide assistance, including an architecture appraisal.”

System equipped with intuitive features tailored for private physicians

With Medicom Cloud EMR officially available, Matsunaga highlights its special features: 

“Medicom Cloud-Based EMR offers three key features: an intuitive interface and clinic-oriented functions that greatly enhance operational efficiency; AI-powered billing and accounting to streamline administrative tasks; and access to over 150 nationwide support offices providing fast troubleshooting, maintenance, and deployment support.

The system's user interface was designed with Wemex’s extensive development expertise, insights from clinical sites, and feedback from interviews and surveys conducted with physicians. The pre-release monitor clinics evaluated it highly for its intuitive operability and clear display. The screen is divided into three sections: the left displays reference information such as past medical records, the center replicates the look and feel of a paper medical record, and the right provides entry assistance tools. These tools enable physicians to complete a record with just a few clicks by using features such as automated input learning and grouping frequently used data into sets. According to Matsunaga, Wemex is exploring the use of Azure OpenAI to further enhance entry assistance.

Another standout feature is the AI-powered accounting function, which displays medical service costs with a click. Since the billing function is integrated with EMR, the system performs checks during data entry and features rich calculation functions. The system is built on rules and logic that Wemex has refined for over 50 years, drawing on its history as Japan’s first company to develop and sell medical-receipt computers. “Our in-house experts create and maintain these rules and logic, but we’re considering automating certain areas using generative AI,” explains Hashimoto. “Given our results, Azure OpenAI is a strong contender.”

Medicom Cloud EMR system offers robust support for medical DX, which is a significant reassurance for clinics introducing EMR for the first time. Along with essential DX features like online eligibility verification and e-prescriptions, clinics will need to prepare for future advancements. Wemex offers a premium plan for medical institutions requiring extensive assistance, alongside a basic plan focused on online support for IT-literate clinics.

“Alongside Medicom Cloud EMR, we also provide Medicom Medical Support, a web reservation and verbal consultation system,” says Matsunaga. This solution, developed and operated on Azure, is often introduced together with the EMR. “We’re not just focusing on EMR but also enhancing services that connect patients with medical institutions and pharmacies to improve the overall medical experience.”

We are excited to see how Wemex will contribute to drive EMR adoption through these innovative services.