TAIPEI: Advanced medical resources based in Kaohsiung are now available to people living in Pingtung county, without their having to travel far from home, thanks to a medical image transmission system inaugurated yesterday.

The system is a joint project of Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (KMUH) and Pingtung Hospital.

The system is capable of transmitting digitized medical images from Pingtung Hospital to KMUH for evaluation. Physicians in Kaohsiung now are able to diagnose patients and prescribe treatment remotely to Pingtung patients in real time.

At yesterday's launch ceremony, doctors at the two hospitals also demonstrated how they can work jointly to carry out surgical procedures using the system.

Li Jian-ting, superintendent of Pingtung Hospital, thanked KMUH for sharing its medical resources with people in the largely rural Pingtung county.

Taiwan's hospitals are accredited as major medical centers, regional hospitals or district hospitals according to the level of medical care available. To receive treatment at a medical center, people from Pingtung usually have to travel to Kaoshiung.

Now some patients can simply visit Pingtung hospital and access the 24-hour medical team at KMUH through the system, Li said.

KMUH doctor Sheu Sheng-Hsiung said the system will provide timely treatment for urgent cases such as strokes.

In non-emergent cases, the system will expedite exchange of medical information for patients who must be transferred.It will also alleviate out-patient and hospital occupancy pressure at KMUH, Sheu said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 06/19/2009 page2)