President Ching-Te Lai, accompanied by Minister Tai-Yuan Chiu of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and Director General Chung-Liang Shih of the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), visited Far Eastern Memorial Hospital to learn about the implementation of the Acute Hospital Care at Home Trial Program. This program enables patients with disabilities due to impaired mobility and residents in care institutions to receive treatment for acute infections either at home or in their care facility. The primary goal of this initiative is to promote "aging in place, aging in peace."
Minister Chiu stated that as Taiwan becomes a super-aged society by 2025, the demand for elderly care is high, particularly in healthcare and long-term care. Implementing Acute Hospital Care at Home brings acute care services directly to the homes or care institutions of older adults, thereby reducing the burden of traveling back and forth between hospitals and home for family caregivers. Moreover, the program connects long-term care resources to provide holistic care to patients in their local settings.
Director General Shih said that the implementation of the Acute Hospital Care at Home Trial Program began on July 1. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists have collaborated to form task forces to provide necessary care. The program allows patients with conditions such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and soft tissue infections to receive antibiotic treatments at home or in care institutions, rather than being admitted to hospitals. Through telemedicine, remote vital signs monitoring equipment, and bedside testing, patients can receive proper care without hospitalization. This approach minimizes cross infections in hospitals and reduces the burden on patients. The program is expected to benefit approximately 5,400 people, with a total investment of NT$350 million from the NHI budget.
According to relevant statistics, a total of 169 teams have registered to participate in the Acute Hospital Care at Home Trial Program. As of now, 148 teams from across Taiwan have been approved by the NHIA, with ongoing reviews for the remaining applicants. The list of approved participants and relevant information is published on the NHIA website (www.nhi.gov.tw) (Home page/ NHI services/ NHI Medical Programs/ NHI Acute Hospital Care at Home Trial Program).
Director General Shih added that since its establishment in 1995, the NHI program has expanded to include various types of home care services, continually improving service measures. With the implementation of the Acute Hospital Care at Home Trial Program this year, it is expected that patients will receive proper healthcare services in a familiar environment, thereby achieving the goal of aging in place.