Can Telemedicine Minimize the Risks and Dangers of CoViD-19?

Although not entirely a new concept, Telemedicine has taken a front seat in the medical practice as an answer to health-care delivery to patients during the CoViD-19 pandemic while various countries are in some form of a lockdown procedure.

Widely referred to as the practice of caring for patients remotely, Telemedicine employs various technological innovations to enhance patient – medical provider communication and interaction even when both parties are not physically together.

This was the topic presented by Taiwan Excellence in an online media forum scheduled earlier with the theme “Telehealth From Taiwan” which discussed about some of the latest technological innovations that can be key instruments in Telemedicine. Technologies that may prove to be useful in medical crisis situations such as the CoViD-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 started almost three months ago and affected countries around the world implementing various measures to try to stop its spread. The actions ranged from closure of geographic borders to lockdowns or quarantines where citizens are restricted in their movements or are strictly confined to their homes.

Hospitals have become key lockdown areas and medical demands continued to grow. Aside from patients with chronic diseases who required medical assistance, there were people with symptoms of coughing and fever not yet confirmed as COVID-19 positive but worried they’ll be infected if they go to the hospital. Even if hospitals and clinics are in close proximity, they seem to have become distant.

Thus, the “telemedicine” concept, which can help reduce the risk and the cost of infection, became the best option amid this pandemic.

Based on a survey conducted by Global Market Insights, the global market value of telemedicine will increase from US$38.3 billion in 2019 to a whopping US$130.5 billion in 2025, with a composite average growth rate of 19.2 percent.

The COVID-19 crisis is causing the doors to close one after another all over the world, but Telemedicine opens another window of hope.

Taiwan integrates its advantages in information technology, communication, and medical strength, and is extensively equipped with the potential to develop the Telemedicine industry.

The Telemedicine industry includes Telehealth Management, Telehealth Nursing and Telemedicine.

According to Walter Yeh, President and CEO of Taiwan External Trade Development Council or TAITRA, “Telemedicine” is actually the best solution amid this pandemic.

“The technology being used in telemedicine/telehealth helps reduce the risk and cost of infection to patients and medical staff alike, and has become the best solution to treating patients with infectious diseases,” Yeh said during his opening remarks.

In the virtual press conference, Yeh showcased to the media three telehealth solutions: Medimaging Integrated Solution, BIONIME, and Leadtek Research, Inc., who all developed products with the aim of advancing science. The solutions, said Yeh, share three common objectives, such as to reduce COVID-19 risks and medical costs for both patients and medical facilities, expedite a patient’s recovery from illness, and to promote proactive patient self-management.

Johnson Chang, Project Manager, Medimaging Integrated Solution Inc.

– Best Medical Image for Telehealth Solution from MiiS Taiwan

For telemedicine, the Horus Scope Digital Handheld Tonometer developed by Medimaging is available to both physicians and optometrists and aims to facilitate the production of electronic medical records through digital photography or video recording. The image can be transmitted to the physician remotely for diagnosis to reduce the need for one-to-one contact.

West Yang, Senior Regional Sales Manager, Bionime Corporation

– RIGHTEST mHealth Solutions for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

The Rightest Precision Health Combined Care Circle, created by Bionime Corporation, collects and analyzes electronic data through digital health service stations and converts it into easily readable information charts. This powerful telecare nursing service provides professional medical hospitals and clinics with ideal solutions for institutional care management as well as follow-up care outside the institutions.

Wayne Lee, Manager, Leadtek Research, Inc.

– Leadtek Wireless Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

Leadtek Research Inc., a Taiwan Excellence enterprise, created its “amor physical and mental health management platform“ based on a wearable bracelet that can monitor personal data like sleeping habits, fatigue levels, blood circulation, and physical stress index. The comprehensive information it collects enhances knowledge of AI risk prediction, individual health patterns, and allows for personalized suggestions to boost self-health management.

Probably the biggest benefit of Telehealth innovations during the CoViD-19 pandemic is its capacity to minimize patient-medical provider physical interaction thereby minimizing the risks and dangers of spreading the disease.

Taiwan has been at the forefront of COVID-19 global prevention efforts. Through the full support of the government, information, industrial strength, and joint efforts of medical professionals, Taiwan showcases its strength in the medical industry.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council said it will continue to develop the medical industry in Taiwan in depth and will hold a “Taiwan International Medical and Healthcare Exhibition” at the Hall 2 of Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center come October 15-17, 2020.

Taiwan Excellence will also lead award-winning businesses to participate in the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Laboratory Equipment Exhibition in December, the ASEAN Senior Care & Wellness Expo in Malaysia in August, and MEDICA in Germany in November, to assist domestic manufacturers and help expand their business opportunities.