Chronic kidney disease patients

• Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Care We promote a low-protein, plant-based dietary approach supported by individualized nutritional counseling. Our research demonstrates that vegetarian diets are associated with a lower risk of CKD while reducing carbon emissions. Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital is Taiwan's leading center for vegetarian and kidney disease research, with the highest publication output in this field.

• Sustainable Dialysis Care Dialysis generates substantial medical waste. We collaborate with industry partners to recycle dialysis waste into reusable products and have adopted lightweight dialyzers, reducing waste to 0.79 kg per treatment (a 5% reduction). Upgraded dialysis machines decrease maintenance requirements and energy consumption, while electronic medical records improve efficiency, accuracy, and resource utilization. These initiatives have also helped contain operational costs.

• Innovative Dialysis Technology We introduced Expanded Hemodialysis (HDx) for patients with multiple comorbidities and severe uremic symptoms. HDx improves symptom control, shortens post-dialysis recovery time, reduces the need for erythropoietin and intravenous iron, and lowers hospitalization rates and length of stay. Compared with hemodiafiltration (HDF), HDx uses lightweight dialyzers and reduces water consumption by 27% and electricity use by 16%, demonstrating that improved clinical outcomes can be achieved alongside meaningful environmental sustainability.

• Green Nephrology

• Plant-based nutrition to slow CKD progression.

• Expanded Hemodialysis (HDx) for effective treatment with lower water and energy consumption.

• Lightweight dialyzers and medical waste recycling to reduce environmental impact.

• A sustainable kidney care model benefiting both patients and the planet.

• 2023 Nephrology Dialysis Center Service Volume

• Hemodialysis sessions: 42,211

• Peritoneal dialysis sessions: 1,123

• Chronic kidney disease education sessions: 2,638

• 2023 Nephrology Dialysis Center Service Satisfaction Survey

• Satisfaction with service process: 92.8

• Satisfaction with professional quality: 93.6

• Satisfaction with environment and facilities: 92.6

• Satisfaction with informed consent: 92.6

• Satisfaction with service attitude: 93.9

• 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Outpatient Satisfaction Survey

• Satisfaction with service process: 97.5

• Satisfaction with professional quality: 97.5

• Satisfaction with environment and facilities: 98.3

• Satisfaction with informed consent: 98.3

• Satisfaction with service attitude: 98.3

• Taking 2023 as an example, compared to the previous year:

• The total waste generated by the dialysis center decreased by 2.5 metric tons, a reduction of 4.7%.

• The cost of medical waste disposal per patient session decreased by 2.5%.

• The mortality rate decreased by 1.99%.

• Key Indicators of Patient Safety Data in the Kidney Dialysis Center (2024)

• Vascular Access Indicators

• AVF Utilization Rate: 65.98%

• AVG Utilization Rate: 22.74%

• CVC Utilization Rate: 11.28%

• Access Infection Rate: 0.10%

• Fistula Reconstruction Rate: 0.07%

• Peritonitis Incidence Rate: 0.78%

• Clinical Dialysis Quality Indicators

• Dialysis Adequacy Achievement Rate: HD (URR ≧ 65%) - 95.8%, PD (weekly ≧ 1.7) - 94%

• Hemoglobin ≧ 10g/dL Achievement Rate: HD - 74.8%, PD - 72.7%

• Calcium-Phosphorus Control ≧ 60mg²/dL: HD - 2.2%, PD - 3.6%

• Albumin ≧ 3.5g/dL Achievement Rate: HD - 88.7%, PD - 88.1%

• Hospitalization Rate: HD - 7.87%, PD - 3.3%

• Mortality Rate: HD < 1 year - 0%, PD < 1 year - 0.21%, HD ≧ 1 year - 0.79%, PD ≧ 1 year - 1.24%

• Patient Safety Incident Reports: Number of Incidents: 5 cases / year

• 2024 Kidney Dialysis Center Service Satisfaction Survey

• Service Process Satisfaction: 92.1 points

• Professional Competence Satisfaction: 93.4 points

• Spatial Environment Satisfaction: 92.0 points

• Informed Consent Satisfaction: 92.8 points

• Service Attitude Satisfaction: 93.1 points

• 2024 Chronic Kidney Disease Outpatient Clinic Satisfaction Survey

• Service Process Satisfaction: 97.5 points

• Professional Competence Satisfaction: 97.5 points

• Spatial Environment Satisfaction: 98.3 points

• Informed Consent Satisfaction: 98.3 points

• Service Attitude Satisfaction: 98.4 points

Our Team's Achievements and Professional Strengths in Vegetarian Research

1. Leading Patient Recruitment Nationwide:

Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital has recruited 55,113 participants for vegetarian research, far exceeding other medical centers in Taiwan (A: 158, B: 473, C: 100), making it the largest study of its kind in the country.

2.Highest Impact in International Journals:

Our original research on vegetarian diets has been published in international journals with an Impact Factor (IF) of up to 5.0, significantly higher than that of other medical centers in Taiwan, demonstrating world-class academic excellence.

3.Pioneer in Systematic Research:

We are the first research team in Taiwan to systematically investigate the relationship between vegetarian diets and kidney disease, laying an important foundation for vegetarian nephrology research in Taiwan and internationally.

4. Leading Publication Output:

Our team has published six original research articles on vegetarian diets, more than any other medical center in Taiwan, demonstrating sustained and in-depth research expertise.

5. National and International Collaboration:

o We have supervised physicians from several hospitals in Taiwan (Cardinal Tien Hospital, MacKay Memorial Hospital, and Changhua Christian Hospital) in conducting vegetarian research.

o We have also assisted El Salvador in establishing a chronic kidney disease care network, exporting our research experience overseas and expanding our international impact.

• Patient Safety Mechanisms: Double patient identification, treatment prescription verification, vascular access safety checks, and dialysis-related patient education.

• Safety Mechanisms During Dialysis Treatment: Pre-treatment assessment, intradialytic monitoring, and standardized dialysis procedures.

• Safety Mechanisms for Equipment and Consumables: Dialysis machine safety testing, inspection and batch number documentation of dialysis consumables, and monitoring of water quality, including bacterial colony counts and endotoxin levels, in the water treatment system in accordance with international standards.

• Infection Control Mechanisms: Aseptic techniques performed by healthcare personnel, regular hand hygiene audits, and surveillance of vascular access infection rates.

• Clinical Quality Indicator Monitoring: Dialysis adequacy, anemia management, nutritional status, electrolyte balance, infection rates, mortality, and hospitalization rates.

• Quality Management and Continuous Improvement Mechanisms: Incident reporting and case review, regular staff education and training, patient satisfaction surveys, and participation in accreditation and certification programs.