Residents of Penghu County
Populations at high risk for lung cancer
Patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancerㄡ
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Taiwan. Owing to geographic isolation, patients in Penghu frequently experience delays in diagnosis and difficulties in referral. Since 2019, Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) has led the "Localization of Lung Cancer Treatment" initiative. Guided by the principle of "Doctors Travel, Patients Stay," TSGH established a comprehensive continuum of care at its Penghu Branch, spanning screening, diagnosis, minimally invasive surgery, and pharmacotherapy. Through regular consultations by medical-center specialists and the use of 5G-enable telemedicine, the program has successfully narrowed the healthcare gap for the offshore islands, allowing patients to receive high-quality care close to home.
"Doctors Travel, Patients Stay": Specialists perform surgery on-site in Penghu.
One-stop Integrated Care: The only complete lung cancer care continuum on the island.
Smart Medicine: AI-assisted detection, 5G-based AR tele-collaboration, and 3D surgical planning.
Accumulated over 450 minimal invasive VATS cases completed to date.
Over 290 LDCT screening services.
Approximately 150~160 outpatient visits per month.
The 5-year survival rate reached 84.9%.
Average postoperative hospital stay reduced to 3-5 days.
Over 90% of patients completed treatment locally.
Zero major complications in preoperative localization.
Standardized anesthesia monitoring with zero accidents.
Adopt ERAS protocols to accelerate patient recovery and minimize postoperative infection risks.
Achieved "Satisfied" and "Very Satisfied" levels in overall patient satisfaction.
Highly rated by patients for the convenience of post-op follow-ups.
Fostered doctor-patient trust, significantly increasing willingness for local surgery.
Published over 100 international peer-reviewed papers on lung cancer surgery.
Presented the results of "Medical Localization for Offshore Islands" at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Taiwan Surgical Association.
Shared the "Medical Center-Level Care System" at the Taiwan Lung Cancer Society on May 25, 2025.
Reduced carbon emissions by tens of thousands of kilograms annually.
Saved patients over NT$8,000 per visit on travel and lodging expenses.
Built a replicable offshore medical model to fill rural care gaps.
