Inha University Hospital advances remote ICU management system

Inha University Hospital has announced significant advancements in its remote intensive care unit (e-ICU) operations within the Incheon region. During a seminar at the KHF 2026 exhibition, Lee Man-jong, head of the clinical support office, detailed how the system has evolved from passive monitoring to an active management model.

A key development is the introduction of a ‘preemptive rounds’ system. Instead of waiting for requests from partner hospitals, dedicated nurses now proactively monitor patients in local intensive care units to identify warning signs. This allows specialists to provide timely consultations or facilitate rapid transfers to tertiary hospitals when high-level intervention is required.

Since implementing this proactive approach, the number of digital rounds has increased from a monthly average of 3 to 84, while specialist remote consultations rose from 3 to 11. The e-ICU model aims to bridge the medical gap between regional and major hospitals by supporting local treatment for manageable cases and ensuring seamless transfers and returns for complex cases, thereby optimizing medical resource allocation.