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Upon urgent demand for medicare while COVID-19 infection spread, we responded quickly to build an Infection-controlled X-ray care unit (ICXCU) in a 2020 national project. The ICXCU is equipped with a telemedicine facility on board dedicated for initial diagnosis of COVID-19 patients outside the hospital in collaboration with Tsukuba Medical Center, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Komazawa University, Focus Systems Corporation, and Pureron Japan Co., Ltd.

Inside the ICXCU is featured with carefully-designed ventilation system to exhaust contaminated air outside through HEPA filters, without risking of secondary infection on the radiologist working inside. The patient can talk with a doctor staying in the remoted hospital through the telemedicine system on board, and patient’s chest X-ray can be taken in the shielded room next to the diagnostic compartment. The X-ray radiograph is immediately sent to the doctor through the medical cloud server, and in a few minutes, the patient is informed of the diagnosis. This telemedicine diagnostic protocol using ICXCU benefits the minimized risk of secondary infection between COVID-19 patients and doctors.

Then we noticed that the concept of ICXCU can be extended to potential emergency situations in flood and earthquake, or to urban/rural area where medical access is severely limited. ICXCU mounts echo, electrocardiograph, electric stethoscope, and vital monitor, necessary in such emergency situations.

Recently, we started a health monitoring service for elderly people, field workers, and patients with poor access to hospitals and clinics. Our smartwatch monitoring service will record your daily health conditions and make a summary report clarifying your vital conditions at glance. For those having difficulties in visiting hospitals, we provide a telemedicine device so that they can see their doctors through Web meeting systems. We believe these services will improve regional healthcare quality, eventually leading to significant reduction of medical care expenditure.