遠距居家照護之現況、可行性及困境

The Current Status, Feasibility and Difficulties of Tele-Home Care

遠距居家照護為一創新之護理照顧方式，歐美國家已應用此種通訊科技於居家護理工作中，且在居家病患之疾病管理與照護成本方面，皆能發揮極大的效用。有鑑於日漸高漲的醫療費用支出、人口老化及慢性病成長加速等因素，我國政府近年來積極推動長期照護網絡體系，並將「遠距居家照護服務計劃」列為國家產業發展重點之一。然而，此種醫療電子技術是否能適用於台灣的居家護理實務，對現今極具競爭的醫療照顧市場會造成何種衝擊，迄今未見相關文獻探討。因此，以國外實施遠距居家照護之經驗為借鏡，提供從事專業護理工作者一個新的思考方向。本文將介紹何謂遠距居家照護、所需設備、應用、可行性及其困境，以因應21世紀科技時代的來臨，並期許護理人員能突破過去傳統的居家照護方式，嘗試運用此一革命性的照護模式，提供居家病患及其家屬持續性的照顧，亦激勵國內護理與醫學資訊領域之專家學者們，將來能投注心力於遠距居家照護之研究。

Tele-home care (THC) is an innovative nursing care mode and has been applied in home care services in European countries and America. It has shown tremendous effects and benefits in disease administration and care costs. In view of increases in medical expenditure, and increases in the aged, chronically diseased population, our government has been actively supporting long-term care networks and has listed THC as an important plan in the nation's development. However, whether this new medical electron technology is applicable to the home-care practice in Taiwan or what will be its impact on the competitive medical care market, have been little discussed. The purpose of this paper, therefore, was to introduce the THC experience from abroad in order to provide a new direction for the nursing staff. In this article, we will introduce and define THC, the equipment it requires, its application, feasibility and difficulties. In preparation for the advent of a scientific and technological 21st century, we hope that nursing staff will be able to consider alternatives to traditional forms of home care and give a try to this revolutionary care mode in order to provide continued care for patients and their families. Furthermore, we hope to encourage experts and scholars in the field of nursing and medical information to invest their effort and intelligence in the study of THC.