TVGH inks BioNTech MOU to cooperate in new drug research and development
2023-08-19
Taipei Veterans General Hospital and the German BioNTech biotechnology company jointly cooperate in the research and development of new drugs. This (17) morning, Superintendent Wei-Ming Chen of Taipei VGH and Mr. Sean Marettia, Chief Commercial and Chief Business Officer of BioNTech biotechnology company, signed a memorandum of cooperation on behalf of the two parties, injecting a new force into Taiwan's cancer precision medicine. Superintendent Wei-Ming Chen said that the Taipei Veterans General Hospital will continue to be in line with international standards, explore the most advanced medical technology, bring more innovations to Taiwan's medical care, and continue to work tirelessly for the health of the people in Taiwan. We also work tirelessly for the health of the Taiwan people. Conquering Cancer Together and Collaborate for impact. Chief Commercial and Chief Business Officer Mr. Sean Marettia is very happy to have this opportunity to cooperate with Taiwan's top medical center. He was deeply impressed by the Taipei Veterans General Hospital’s outpatient chemotherapy, integrated Traditional Chinese medicine and Western therapy, and the world's most advanced heavy ion cancer therapy center. In the field of cancer treatment, Taipei Veterans General Hospital has reached the world-class level in terms of medical technology and treatment effects. Up to one-third of the inpatients in the hospital are cancer patients. In addition to advanced surgical operations and medical treatment, In May 2023, the world's most advanced heavy ion cancer therapy center was opened to give full play to the power of interdisciplinary team treatment, and the results are exciting. Precision and personalized medicine are the international trends in cancer treatment. Based on the spirit of pursuing excellence, Taipei Veterans General Hospital cooperates with German BioNTech this time to strive for more new treatment options for Taiwan’s people. source：https://www.vghtpe.gov.tw/News!one.action?nid=12496 Last Modified：2023/08/18 09:25:07
TVGH inks BioNTech MOU to coop...
AI system improves clinical decisions for better patient care at Taichung hospital
2023-03-31
The technology enables more accurate, faster data analysis. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) can play an important role in modern medicine and in providing better patient care and services. The technology fills a significant gap in the medical system by enabling better processing, management, detection, and analysis of large data sets and mathematical algorithms at unequalled speed and precision. Whilst there may be some concerns surrounding this technology, it can help save lives, reduce avoidable medical complications and medical errors, and streamline layers of patient and medical data when properly utilised and trained for specific applications. To reap these benefits, China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) in Taichung, Taiwan, has implemented innovative and specialised AI technologies to aid with complex clinical decision-making in two critical fields of medicine: antimicrobial medicine and cardiovascular medicine. These AI-assistive systems have improved clinical decision-making and clinical outcomes in challenging areas of medicine. For this, CMUH is being honoured as Smart Hospital Initiative of the Year - Taiwan by Healthcare Asia Awards 2023. Slated for presentation on March 29, 2023, the awards programme aims to honour hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers that have risen and made a remarkable impact on their patients. In cardiovascular medicine, AI is making a difference with fast and accurate ECG interpretation at CMUH, in the form of an innovative wireless or remote 12-lead ECG monitor. The AI detects abnormal heart rhythms that indicate cardiovascular events such as an ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), which require emergency care in a defined 90-minute window, often referred to as door-to-bed. AI assistance in ambulances also saves time and facilitates triage for better clinical outcomes. Prehospital 12-lead ECG examinectin, transmission, and interpretation The technology is especially helpful in detecting cardiovascular events in patients experiencing chest pain who have atypical symptoms, making timely diagnosis and treatment intervention difficult. Additionally, it prevents treatment delays during busy periods in the hospital and during the off-hours when fewer medical staff are available. With the AI-assistive technology, ECG interpretation times have been reduced to 10 minutes or less, an increase from 24% to 63.4% since implementing ASAP scoring in patients without chest pain. The AI assistance for cardiovascular emergency medicine has also significantly reduced the door-to-bed time during the off-hours period when hospitals have fewer staff in operation. Meanwhile, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical problem in medicine associated with inappropriate antibiotic treatment and medical error. Over time, microbial pathogens that cause infections adapt to antibiotic medications, making them ineffective and resulting in antimicrobial resistance. It is therefore imperative to make better clinical decisions in antimicrobial medicine through careful microbial pathogen detection and precise antimicrobial medication selection. Al-assistance provides a solution AI assistance for antimicrobial medicine predicts eight drug-resistant strains and septic mortality within one hour, reducing 85% of the medical errors and the mortality rate. As a result, CMUH has improved the treatment for microbial infections by guiding antimicrobial medicine selection and effectively reducing the amount of inappropriate antimicrobial medication use and medical error. In addition, the technology can quickly and accurately assess antimicrobial medication resistance against specific microbial pathogens to avoid ineffective treatments and avoid medical complications. Stakeholders of the hospital have also noted reduced hospital expenses and avoidable complications since implementing the AI assistance systems, according to Aichi Chou, CEO of International Center at CMUH. “AI assistance is instrumental because of its ability to analyse large data sets fast and accurately to make good clinical decisions by guiding antimicrobial selection, generating antibiograms, and predicting sepsis and mortality risks which save lives and reduce further medical complications due to ineffective infection treatment,” Chou said. Chou added, “Medical records are often missing detailed annotations regarding previous infections and treatments which further complicates microbial treatment. AI assistance improves the accuracy of medical records through detailed annotations.” The hospital has “received feedback from several patients and their families that they are very grateful for the speed of emergency care when they or their loved one has had a heart attack but are not near a hospital, and especially if it happened during late hours or the middle of the night, she said. HEALTHCAREASIA
AI system improves clinical de...
Newsweek lists National Taiwan University Hospital as one of world’s best
2023-03-08
Newsweek lists National Taiwan University Hospital as one of world’s best NTUH superintendent: Taiwan hospitals should have been ranked higher By Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer 2023/03/07 National Taiwan University Hospital ranks No. 249 in the world, according to Newsweek and Statista. (CNA photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan made its first appearance this year in Newsweek’s annual ‘World’s Best Hospitals’ list, with National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) ranking as the country’s best, or at No. 249 on a global basis. The U.S. magazine and global data firm Statista said they ranked 2,300 hospitals in 28 countries, including Taiwan on the list for the first time. A total of 35 Taiwan hospitals were featured on the list, though only NTUH made it into the top 250. Superintendent Wu Ming-shiang (吳明賢) expressed surprise at the fact that most Taiwan hospitals were rated relatively low, UDN reported. Considering local hospitals’ technological achievements and high-quality levels of service, they should have appeared higher on the list, even in the top 100, according to Wu, who added that many hospitals are unlikely to agree with the ranking they received. NTUH was followed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital, the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital campus in Kaohsiung City, National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan City, and the China Medical University based in Taichung City.
Newsweek lists National Taiwan...
Taiwan has been the No. 1 favorite place for foreign travelers for 3 consecutive years
2021-05-19
In January 2021, more than 12,000 expat respondents from across the globe took part in the latest Expat Insider survey. Together, they represent a total of 174 nationalities and live in 186 countries or territories around the world. And, for the first time since the Expat Insider survey was launched in 2014, more than 6,000 local residents — many former and future expats among them — also had the opportunity to respond to selected questions; most of these addressed the way the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic might have disrupted relocation plans or a recent stay abroad. Safe & Sound in Taiwan Taiwan ranks 1st out of 59 destinations for the third year in a row in the Expat Insider 2021 survey. It also comes first in the Quality of Life and Working Abroad Indices: Most expats are satisfied with their job security (83% vs. 61% globally) and the state of the local economy (85% vs. 62% globally). Additionally, the majority is happy with their job (75% vs. 68% globally) and their life in general (80% vs. 75% globally). Furthermore, 96% of expats rate the quality of medical care positively (vs. 71% globally), and another 94% are satisfied with its affordability (vs. 61% globally). An expat from Chile shares: “The Taiwanese healthcare system truly considers people as human beings instead of mere numbers.” Moreover, not a single expat feels personally unsafe in Taiwan (vs. 8% globally). An expat from Canada shares: “I can live independently. I feel safe wherever I go, and everything is convenient.” The Taiwanese healthcare system truly considers people as human beings instead of mere numbers. Although Taiwan places slightly lower in the Ease of Settling In Index (13th), it is the best-ranking country worldwide in the Friendliness subcategory (1st). Most expats find it easy to make friends there (62% vs. 48% globally) and describe the Taiwanese population as friendly towards foreign residents (96% vs. 67% globally). Where Expat Life Is Great: The Quality of Life Index Methodology In 2021, the Expat Insider survey includes 59 countries and territories with a minimum of 50 respondents each. The Quality of Life Index covers 20 factors from seven different subcategories: Leisure Options, Health & Well-Being, Safety & Security, Personal Happiness, Travel & Transportation, Digital Life, and Quality of the Environment. Respondents rated factors on a scale from one to seven. Taiwan: Still Going Strong In the Quality of Life Index, Taiwan places first for the fourth time. In the Expat Insider 2021 survey, it lands again among the top 10 in two subcategories that have always been among its strongest points: Health & Well-Being (1st) and Travel & Transportation (8th). Expats in Taiwan appreciate both the affordability of healthcare (94% positive replies vs. 61% globally) and its quality (96% positive vs. 71% globally). “I love the excellent and affordable healthcare system!” says a French expat in Taipei. Another 90% give the transportation infrastructure a positive rating, compared to 76% worldwide. I love the excellent and affordable healthcare system! Taiwan gets above-average results in three more subcategories. However, all these rankings are somewhat negatively affected by one specific factor. For example, Taiwan places 14th in the Digital Life subcategory. Its ratings for high-speed internet access, for instance, are excellent, with 94% of expats judging this factor favorably (vs. 79% globally). However, they are less satisfied with the cashless payment options: 85% rate them positively, about the same as the global average (83%). Though this is still a good result, it is not an amazing one, which leads to Taiwan not ranking quite as highly as it might have. Similar trends emerge in the Safety & Security (14th) and Leisure Options (17th) subcategories. Last but not least, Taiwan only lands in an average 29th place in the Quality of the Environment subcategory. This is mainly due to the local air quality, which a mere 56% rate positively, compared to 66% worldwide. Nonetheless, expats in Taiwan are pretty happy with their life in general — four out of five (80%) say so (vs. 75% globally). The Best and Worst Places to Feel at Home Abroad Taiwan ranks first for Friendliness, closely followed by Mexico and Costa Rica. In fact, 96% of expats in Taiwan rate the general friendliness of the population positively, compared to a global average of 69%. The same share (96%) agrees that people in Taiwan are generally friendly towards foreign residents, and 54% even agree completely (vs. a global average of 67% and 25% respectively). “Taiwanese citizens make me feel at home,” an expat from France points out. “I don’t feel like a foreigner here.” In the bottom 3 of the subcategory, Austria (58th) joins Denmark (57th) and Kuwait (59th). Nearly three in eight expats in Austria (37%) rate the general friendliness of the local population negatively (vs. 16% globally), and the same percentage (37%) find people in Austria to be generally not friendly towards foreign residents (vs. 18% globally). “Austrians take a long time to warm up to you,” says a British expat, and a survey respondent from Turkey agrees that “socializing with the locals is not easy”. Source：https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2021/
Taiwan has been the No. 1 favo...