Department of Community Medicine
Overview
The Community Medicine Department of this hospital was established on July 1, 2005, to enhance community medical services and address the needs of preventive medicine. Its goal is to effectively integrate community resources and improve the health of both military and civilian populations in the region. Aligned with the hospital’s mission of “wholehearted dedication and holistic care”, the department not only provides exceptional medical services but also emphasizes strengthening the connection between the community and the hospital, thereby establishing a comprehensive community medical service network.
Crew
Personnel Introduction
The department is led by Dr. Tu Shikai, who serves as both the director and head of the Family Medicine Department. He is responsible for the department’s strategic development, coordination with other departments, and the integration of family medicine-related services. Dr. Tu leads a team of family medicine specialists dedicated to delivering high-quality, holistic medical care.
The department comprises seven family medicine specialists, each with expertise in various fields, including one specialist in geriatric medicine, two in occupational medicine, and one in palliative medicine. All attending physicians hold professional certifications in smoking cessation and diabetes management. Additionally, the team includes two home care nurses and one home palliative care nurse, who provide a range of home care and palliative care services. A smoking cessation educator offers professional health education and consultation services, and the department also features a hyperbaric oxygen center that provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
As the sole regional teaching hospital in East Taichung, the National Defense Medical Center Taichung Hospital plays a vital role in community healthcare. It is committed to continuous self-assessment and improvement to deliver more comprehensive and professional preventive medicine and community medical services. In 2019, the department established a home nursing service to provide various levels of home care and palliative services to residents, serving as a model for the community medical network in East Taichung.
Services
The Community Medicine Department offers a comprehensive range of services, including family medicine outpatient clinics, a hyperbaric oxygen therapy center, and various specialty medical services such as smoking cessation programs, chronic disease management, weight loss initiatives, palliative care, and occupational medicine outpatient clinics.
Externally, the department collaborates with the community to provide medical services that address local needs, including home medical care, various levels of home care, home palliative care, long-term care service points, and community-integrated screening and health education seminars.
The department is organized into several subdivisions: family medicine, aviation medicine, nursing home services, home nursing services, a B-level complex day service center for long-term care, as well as specialized departments in occupational medicine and geriatric medicine. The department’s mission is to serve as a trusted health management center for both military and civilian residents in East Taichung and the Tun District, delivering professional and compassionate services focused on the families of community residents.
Vision
The department emphasizes the substantial impact of occupational diseases on society and the impending challenges posed by an increasingly aging population. Geriatric medicine and long-term care will be central priorities for Taiwan’s healthcare system in the future.
The department’s long-term mission is to effectively integrate and utilize community medical resources while proactively preventing health issues through a holistic and preventive approach to medicine. It is anticipated that, by providing more accessible medical services, the department will enhance its community engagement and benefit both military and civilian populations.
Organizational Structure of the Community Medicine Department
The Community Medicine Department encompasses several specialties, including Occupational Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Family Medicine. Within Family Medicine, we provide an integrative medicine outpatient clinic, a specialized smoking cessation outpatient clinic, a weight loss outpatient clinic, and home nursing services. Additionally, the department includes a Hyperbaric Oxygen Center and a Cancer Screening Team.