Taiwan Hospital Uses Telemedicine for Home-Based Acute Care

Taipei's Cathay General Hospital is pioneering a "home-based acute care" initiative, leveraging remote video consultations to treat patients with mild, acute infections without requiring them to wait for hospital beds. This program offers an alternative for elderly patients suffering from conditions such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or soft tissue infections.

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Many elderly individuals in their 70s and 80s seek medical attention for conditions like urinary tract infections or fever due to pneumonia. Although not immediately life-threatening, they still require several days of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Previously, they often had to wait in the emergency room for a hospital bed, which affected their rest and increased the burden on their families.

Under this new model, eligible patients who are stable enough for home treatment can receive intravenous antibiotic drips administered by a medical team at their residence. The hospital's medical staff then monitors their condition daily through secure video calls. This approach addresses the common challenge of long waits in emergency rooms for hospital beds, which can be exhausting for patients and burdensome for families.

Dr. Guo Hui-ling, director of the Geriatrics Department at Cathay General Hospital, explained that the service is particularly beneficial for patients with mobility issues or those who find it difficult to travel for medical appointments. By receiving treatment in a familiar and comfortable home environment, patients can recover more peacefully, while also reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections. This also offers greater flexibility for family caregivers.

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Physicians can connect with patients or their families daily via a secure remote video platform to understand changes in fever, breathing, mental status, and other vital signs. If necessary, treatment strategies can be adjusted in real-time, ensuring both medical quality and patient safety.

Cathay General Hospital plans to expand its use of remote video technology beyond acute home care. Vice President Wang Ba-qun indicated that the hospital intends to integrate this digital approach into broader home healthcare services, long-term care facilities, and even remote medical support in underserved areas. The goal is to extend medical services beyond hospital walls into communities, offering a more patient-centered care model.

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Remote video medical care is currently applied to home-based acute care. In the future, it will be gradually expanded to home medical care, long-term care facilities, and remote medical care in rural areas, breaking through time and geographical limitations through digital technology.