The Role of Health Information Technology on Critical Care Services in Thailand
Petch Wacharasint MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Health information technology (IT) has become an important part of current medical practice, especially in critical care services. One significant advance is the use of telemedicine which was initiated in Thailand nearly two decades ago. Telemedicine is also used in the intensive care unit or, what has been termed the “Tele-ICU”. It has evolved as an alternate paradigm linking the intensivist and critical care specialists to critically ill patients in remote areas. In this article, the author has reviewed the evidence of health IT on critical care services in Thailand, focusing on telemedicine, as well as the concept of the ‘Tele-ICU’ and its challenges. These factors may assist intensivists to reach more critically ill patients in remote areas.
Keywords : Telemedicine, Tele-ICU, Health information technology
