美國遠距醫療及遠距照護加護病房

遠距醫療定義是利用電子通訊方式進行醫療資訊傳遞，在美國已經是推行超過40 年且已證明相當有成效的醫療照護方式。在台灣目前重症照護領域人力吃緊的情形下，如何更有效率的照顧病人已是刻不容緩的課題。迄今，已經有許多研究證實，遠距加護病房對於病患的死亡率，加護病房周轉率，相關併發症，醫療支出各方面有顯著改善。其中有些需要特別設置的軟硬體以及對工作人員相關要求，會在本文中整理與介紹。

The definition of telemedicine is the use of information technologies and telecommunication for providing health care from a distance. It has been used for more than 40 years in the United States, and proved to be very effective. Recent studies have shown that implementing telemedicine in the intensive care unit may improve mortality, length of stay, complications and medical cost. We will introduce a proof of concept of implementing a tele-ICU and describe the necessary staff training, hardware, and software requirements.