Far East Medical Electronics Technology Limited, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Zuoying Branch, and CSBC Corporation, Taiwan - A Tripartite Collaborative Venture - The World's First Offshore Telemedicine and Smart Drug Delivery Service Platform

Military News Agency

Zuoying Branch has developed a new generation satellite communication technology integrated with 5G technology for assisting maritime medical personnel in patient diagnosis and treatment. (Photo by Youth Daily News reporter Hsiao Chia I)
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(Military News Agency reporter Wu Po Jung, Taipei, the 5th)
As Taiwan is an island nation bordered by surrounding waters, telemedicine services are of paramount significance. With the upgrading of communication systems and facilities, the Zuoying Branch of the Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital has established a pioneering maritime telemedicine service, in which physicians on shore and medical officers on shipboard are provided with real-time video and electrocardiogram (EKG) consultations, followed by diagnosis and medical opinions, which are then relayed to vessels via satellite to provide immediate pharmaceutical support via automated medicine dispensers, thus enhancing emergency medical treatment capacity at sea.

When a vessel is underway at sea, in the event of any urgent rescue mission, given the lack of resources for on-board specialized physicians and the fact that the quality of communication at sea is susceptible to weather and satellite communication quality, it is imperative to establish a versatile telemedicine platform available for maritime operations. Therefore, the Emergency Department, Cardiovascular Department, Information Office of the Zuoying Branch of the Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, together with CSBC Corporation Taiwan and associated operators, developed a new generation satellite communication technology which integrates 5G signal switching technology and data transmission to realize a platform for remote medical emergency care, consultation and pharmaceutical services on board vessels at sea.

The platform is equipped with smart monitoring equipment, including digital hand-held diagnostic sets, physiological monitoring equipment (including electroshock equipment, ECG, blood pressure, body temperature, blood glucose), micro-ultrasound devices, among others. Physicians have clear access to the images during the video sessions, enabling precise diagnosis of the conditions of patients, as well as synchronized access to physiological monitoring equipment, with monitoring patches applied to the patient's hands and feet so that pertinent data can be transmitted to the hospital in a real-time manner, thereby enabling patients to receive proper medical treatment within the critical time frame of emergency medical care, with 24-hour medical emergency physician assistance and medical services by appointment from various physicians at all times.

In addition, the smart medication dispenser allows linking with the hospital's medication database for identification of the contents and quantity of pharmaceuticals, regardless of whether they are in bare tablets or packaged otherwise, enabling medical officers, captains, and other personnel with authorization to manage medication dispensers and gate-keep medication security.

The Zuoying Branch noted that through 5G's low latency data transmission characteristics and dedicated point-to-point medical consultation images, AR glasses consultation and other interfaces, maritime medical personnel can be supported for immediate medical treatment, while the auxiliary maritime medical consultation platform enables quick deployment through SMS and the lead physician, allowing for seamless tripartite consultation and treatment processing time, significantly enhancing maritime emergency medical care capacity.

Data is integrated into an on-vessel automated medication dispensing station to provide immediate medication treatment. (Photo by Youth Daily News reporter Hsiao Chia I)

Smart monitoring devices empower physicians to accurately determine medical conditions during video sessions. (Photo by Youth Daily News reporter Hsiao Chia I)