Efficient use and problems associated with 'home remote medical support system'--utilization of videophones for homecare patients

摘要

"Home Remote Medical Support System" (the support system) is an interactive real time communication system, consisting of a vital health measuring device and a near-television quality home digital videophone installed at a residence, to connect a primary medical care institution and a homecare patient by information communication lines. Exclusive use of a telephone, vital health measuring device, TV monitor and camera are installed as home devices to communicate with a primary personal computer at the medical institution to manage patient's data and to have video phone health consultations. We employed and conducted the support system with a help from "the remote medical assistant task" operated by the local government since April 2004. Two patients actually used the support system in the first year although we initially planned to have three. In conclusion, the support system appears to have been useful for the health management of patients with stable conditions. Meanwhile, we have to reassess the application of the support system and to balance its accountability among the user efficiency, the content of the support provider and user expenses.