Degenerative spine surgery patients
Spine tumor surgical patients
Spine trauma reconstruction patients
Elderly requiring pre-op conditioning
Neurosurgical ERAS-eligible cases
Patients needing home care after discharge
Cathay General Hospital's Neurosurgery Department launched Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in 2016, formally implementing ERAS in spine surgery in 2020 and earning the international "ERAS Society Hospital Certification" in 2022. The team integrates neurosurgery, anesthesiology, rehabilitation, nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, PT/OT, and case managers, operating on three pillars: "Active Preparation, Planned Treatment, Proactive Recovery." Evidence-based interventions include pre-op conditioning, 2-hour pre-op polysaccharide drink, anesthesia depth monitoring, warming blanket, patient-controlled analgesia, and early mobilization/feeding. The Taiwan-first ERAS Smart Care APP implements 5-stage bidirectional management from pre-op to discharge. Since 2020, 121 spine surgeries completed: LOS reduced from 16 to 8 days, post-op complications from 5.6% to 0%, 30-day readmission from 2.7% to 0%, with 86% element protocol execution rate.
Taiwan-first ERAS Smart Care APP
3 pillars: preparation, planning, recovery
Hospital-level ERAS committee (TRM)
Personalized home-based conditioning
5-stage bidirectional management platform
Comprehensive multidisciplinary care
Since 2020: 121 cumulative spine surgeries
8 surgical disciplines implementing ERAS
Collected feedback from 37 experts + 10 patients
Data collection completion: 99%
Pre-admission prep time reduced 50%
1 hour saved in medical process
LOS: 16 → 8 days (-8 days)
Post-op complications: 5.6% → 0%
30-day readmission: 2.7% → 0%
Element protocol execution: 86%
Muscle endurance improved 10%
Foley catheter removed 30 hours earlier
Zero adverse events since 2020
Major bleeding rate: 60‰ → 33‰
Continuous decline in transfusion rate
AQT precise intraoperative fluid control
Polysaccharide drink reduces insulin resistance
Antimicrobial soap prevents wound infection
Nausea/vomiting reduced 50%
Pain perception reduced 50%
Mobilized 2.3 days earlier
Normal eating restored 2 days earlier
No longer fear of surgery
Enhanced patient active participation
2022 International ERAS Hospital Certification
First in Taiwan with complete ERAS process
Sole Taiwan facility with >80% ERAS execution
Sole Taiwan multidisciplinary ERAS service
Aligned with ERAS Society standards
Connects long-term care, reduces costs
Increases bed turnover, raising hospital revenue
Strengthens cross-team cohesion
Boosts staff morale
Realizes value-based healthcare
