4.1 Social Participation
Although operating under the Ministry of National Defense as a military medical institution, our Hospital is deeply committed to serving both military personnel and the broader community. In addition to providing healthcare to military personnel and their dependents, we actively expand community-based medical services to benefit local residents and strengthen public engagement. Guided by the mission to safeguard national health, we work to extend military medical resources into the community—particularly reaching vulnerable groups such as low-income families, older adults, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities—in pursuit of healthcare equity.
Guided by our core values of ‘Loyal service, accountable care, and treating every patient with familial compassion’, we strive to become both a leading hub for naval military medicine and a trusted community health provider. Today, we play a key role in the Zuoying area, demonstrating our commitment to both humanitarian care and social responsibility.
As the Hospital’s influence within the community continues to grow, we remain committed to expanding the scope of our medical services. Plans are underway to establish a dedicated Critical Care Building, laying a solid foundation for future development. Our vision is to become a leading regional teaching hospital in northern Kaohsiung, delivering high-quality and professional medical care to a broader population.
Community Healthcare
Backed by a professional team of military medical personnel, our Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality, specialized medical services. To better serve the public, we established the Community Medicine Department to actively engage with local communities and foster close connections with residents. By integrating resources from our Social Services Office, Public Relations Office, and various clinical specialties, we provide comprehensive healthcare services that address both physical and mental well-being. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to social responsibility as a medical institution and lays the foundation for trust and care between the Hospital and the community.
Mobile Healthcare and Health Guardianship
Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital has long focused on the health needs of disadvantaged groups, rural communities, and the elderly. The Hospital continues to promote community mobile healthcare services by regularly dispatching the health screening team of Community Medicine Department to nearby areas such as Zuoying and Nanzih for free clinics. Led by the Director of the Family Medicine Division, these outreach programs integrate resources from the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry, Radiology, Laboratory Medicine, Cancer Screening Task Force, Physical Examination Center, and volunteers. Together, they provide a wide range of health screening services, including adult and geriatric health checkups, hepatitis B and C screening, oral cancer screening, breast and cervical cancer Pap smears, and colorectal cancer screening.
In addition, we offer follow-up care and health education consultations for patients with chronic diseases, while reinforcing the importance of preventive healthcare. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we provide more comprehensive medical support for underserved populations. In 2024, the Hospital organized 5 adult and geriatric health screening events and provided 6 influenza vaccination sessions, extending timely medical care and support to more individuals in need.
Notably, the Hospital places special emphasis on the physical and mental well-being of veterans, military families, and elderly individuals living alone. Through regular home visits by medical and nursing teams, we offer emotional support and psychological care. In addition to promoting the “Community Health Protection Program” for seniors, we also incorporate a variety of wellness activities under the theme of “Active Aging.” These include health exercises and lifelong learning programs designed to improve quality of life, reduce loneliness, and promote overall physical and mental well-being.
Building a Social Safety Net
In addition to providing medical care for military personnel and the general public, our Hospital also actively fulfills its social responsibilities by offering resource coordination and referral services to connect individuals with appropriate social support systems. When patients are assessed by our medical team and found to be facing challenges such as family dysfunction (including vulnerable family environments), domestic violence, child or adolescent protection issues, or requiring post-discharge institutional care, we proactively report these cases through the government’s Social Safety Net – E Care system. Following the report, social workers or case managers intervene to provide professional support, ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of the individuals involved and helping them access appropriate social welfare resources. In 2024, the Hospital reported a total of 244 cases to the Social Safety Net, including 158 domestic violence cases, 61 child and adolescent protection cases, and 25 cases related to family dysfunction. Additionally, 22 post-discharge patients in need of placement and care were referred to suitable facilities, ensuring timely support and resources for every family in need.
Overview of the Social Safety Net
社會安全網示意圖
Beyond providing medical services, the Hospital is deeply committed to addressing the social and psychological needs of patients and their families throughout their treatment journey. The Hospital has implemented a dedicated ‘Financial Assistance Program for Patients in Need’, with quarterly disclosures to ensure transparency and accountability. For patients facing financial hardship, communication barriers with healthcare professionals, or post-discharge care challenges, our Social Services Office offers timely support and assistance. Patients may also be referred by the medical team for further evaluation by medical social workers, who assess their family and social circumstances and help connect them with appropriate community resources. In 2024, the Hospital provided emergency financial aid totaling NT$1,711,861, benefiting 224 patients.
Over 2024, the Social Services Office served 3,180 individuals. Ahead of the Lunar New Year, the Hospital held a charity event featuring spring couplet calligraphy and second-hand goods sale. With the collaborative efforts of social workers and volunteers, the event raised NT$117,230, which was donated to the Hospital’s emergency medical assistance fund. This initiative reflects the Hospital’s ongoing commitment to social responsibility and care for those in need.
Promoting Localized Healthcare Support for an Aging Population
In recent years, Taiwan has experienced a continued decline in birth rates, while advances in medical technology and improved living standards have led to increased life expectancy. It is projected that by 2025, over 20% of Taiwan’s population will be aged 65 or older, officially marking the country’s transition into a ‘super-aged society’.
In response to the rising proportion of elderly citizens, the Hospital has proactively promoted cross-departmental collaboration to deliver integrated healthcare services. These include community health services, home-based care, and long-term care institution. Our goal is to ensure that individuals across varying health conditions, especially seniors living in the community, have access to comprehensive and appropriate medical care.
At the same time, we actively promote preventive healthcare to help older adults maintain good health, reduce disease risks, and enhance their overall quality of life. These efforts aim not only to support healthy aging but also to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system, contributing to the long-term stability of public health and social wellbeing.
Nursing Home and Day Care Services
In response to the growing demand for long-term care, our Hospital established its nursing home in 1999, providing 80 beds for elderly residents. As the prevalence of dementia continues to rise with the aging population, the second floor of the nursing home was renovated in 2008 to create “Lotus Memory Home,” a small-scale, home-like care environment dedicated to seniors with dementia, offering 20 beds in a warm and supportive setting. To further expand its care services, the Hospital received funding from the Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government in 2014 to establish a day care center on the same floor, providing daytime support for up to 20 seniors.
The Nursing Home is managed by the Long-Term Care Division under the Community Medicine Department. Since its establishment, we have continuously improved service quality and have been repeatedly recognized by the Department of Health with Class A and Excellence awards. Our Hospital is committed to creating a professional, safe, and compassionate care environment for elderly residents in need of long-term support. By integrating the Hospital’s medical resources, we have built a multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide comprehensive healthcare, daily living assistance, and occupational therapy for seniors with physical impairments or limited self-care abilities. Each care plan is individually tailored to meet seniors’ specific needs, with a strong emphasis on fostering independence, preserving personal dignity, and enhancing overall quality of life.
Community-Based Integrated Service Center (Tier A Unit)
In line with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s policy on aging in place, the Hospital has established a community-based integrated service system to increase the accessibility and diversity of long-term care services. This initiative aims to strengthen the density and distribution of service providers within communities, allowing the public to access comprehensive and convenient care close to home. Under the Long-Term Care 2.0 policy, resource development has focused on expanding the availability of home-based services and promoting the widespread establishment of day care centers. By integrating resources from the social welfare, healthcare, and nursing sectors, the policy encourages joint participation from long-term care and medical institutions, fostering a localized care infrastructure. The Community-Based Integrated Service Center (Tier A Unit) is responsible for implementing case management, coordinating and arranging care resources according to individual needs, and providing services that are both flexible and continuous.
Established in 2018, the Hospital’s Community-Based Integrated Service Center (Tier A Unit) serves 16 neighborhoods in the Nanzih District. As of 2024, the center has supported a cumulative total of 1,916 individuals. Through this center, case managers assist long-term care recipients with disability levels ranging from Level 2 to Level 8. Services include coordinating appropriate care and professional services, transportation assistance, provision of assistive devices and home accessibility improvements, and respite care, and other related services.
To ensure that older adults can age in place within familiar communities, we work closely with long-term care personnel to ensure seamless service transitions. This collaboration enhances the efficiency and quality of long-term care services while building a community-based integrated service system. It enables the public to access resources more conveniently and helps relieve the physical and mental burden on family caregivers.
As the service contact point of the Community-Based Integrated Service Center, our case managers assist the public in accessing a wide range of care resources provided by the Hospital’s Nursing Home. These include day care, in-home services, in-home respite care, community-based bathing services, and rehabilitative care. We also help with applications for assistive device subsidies offered by the local health authority. In 2024, we conducted 1,558 in-home visits and 345 home medical consultations, and handled 1 case of home-based acute care. We also assisted 34 home care patients in receiving influenza vaccinations and 9 in receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, we revised 2 home nursing care guidelines and successfully completed the evaluation of our home nursing care institution.
Elderly Driver Health Screening Services
With the rising proportion of elderly residents in the Zuoying and Nanzih districts, particularly drivers aged 75 and above, there is an increasing need to ensure their fitness to drive. Under current regulations, elderly drivers must undergo both a physical examination and a cognitive function test when renewing their driver’s licenses. To ease the burden of this process on seniors, the Hospital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kaohsiung Motor Vehicles Office in 2024 to launch the “Health and Cognitive Screening Service for Drivers Aged 75 and Above.” This initiative aims to enhance traffic safety awareness among elderly drivers and ensure their physical and cognitive abilities meet driving standards—ultimately contributing to a safer road environment.
By integrating the Hospital’s comprehensive medical resources with the Motor Vehicles Office’s expertise in transportation safety, the program provides a one-stop license renewal service for seniors. Medical staff from the physical examination center of the Community Medicine Department conduct full-spectrum assessments, including vision, hearing, reaction time, and cognitive function tests. Seniors are also reminded to monitor their health regularly to reduce risks associated with age-related decline in physical functions. With Motor Vehicles Office staff stationed on-site at the physical examination center, seniors can complete their license renewal immediately after the health examination. This not only enhances service accessibility but also embodies our Hospital’s core value of “Loyal service, accountable care, and treating every patient with familial compassion.” Through this service, we continue to care for the health and safety of every senior in our community.
