Tele-emergency medicine: the evaluation of Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Kinmen-Granite Hospital in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the project was to establish computer networks between selected hospitals through high-speed communication and high power computer processing to electronically exchange medical information and to conduct clinical examination and consultation. Quality medical services can thus be provided to patients in the remote rural areas such as villages and small towns in the mountains, on the coasts and islets away from Taiwan. It also intended to facilitate continuing education for doctors in those areas. This study evaluates telemedicine between Taipei-Veterans General Hospital and Kinmen-Granite Hospital.


METHODS
Patients were chosen from 1996-7 to 1997-6. The evaluation criteria included consulting quality, satisfaction of the doctors, benefits for the patients, and the charge being rendered.


RESULTS
The results of evaluation for telemedicine between Taipei-Veterans General Hospital (VGHTPE) and Kinmen-Granite hospital (GH) are as follows: 93.0% doctors used telemedicine to seek a second opinion. After teleconsultation, the ratio of the patients showing cooperation was over 80%. Over 98% doctors thought telemedicine system helpful. The doctors in VGHTPE are more satisfied with the facility than local doctors in Kinmen.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical evaluation of the telemedicine showed positive results. It can be a useful tool to facilitate on-job training and education Tele-emergency medicine.
Wang
L M
LM
Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Huang
Y T
YT
Chern
C H
CH
Lo
H C
HC
Lee
C H
CH
Tang
D D
DD
Ho
L T
LT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013624:Taiwan; D017216:Telemedicine