According to Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates, the disability rate among the population was 3.9% in 2021, with 890,000 being disabled. Partially disabled patients may develop bed sores after long-term bed rest. If they are disabled elders, they may also have related conditions, such as diabetes or frailty, which would cause wounds to not heal and result in repeated hospitalizations. They may even face risks such as amputation or septicemia, which could be life threatening.

      In 2021, 6,533 people were hospitalized for bed sores in the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan areas. Over half of the patients required home health care and long-term care institutions. The average number of hospitalization days of these patients was 20 days, which meant they required more manpower and resources for care compared to general hospitalized patients.

      Currently, in Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan, 60% of plastic surgeons are practicing in Tainan City. In order to solve the issues of patients who are bedridden and unable to travel for medical care, the NHIA Southern Division is planning to use Tainan City as the pilot region and NCKU Hospital, Chi Mei Medical Center and Tainan Hospital as seed hospitals to establish a home wound care team and the wound care service center. In the future, NHIA will actively match the three hospitals with long-term care institutions and home care centers in Tainan City to expand its services together to cases at home or long-term care institutions. Doctors will perform the wound debridement and nurses will perform home health care and nutritional assessments, thereby providing one-stop home health services. Together, the institutions will improve wound care quality and quality of life for bed sore patients.