Terminal cancer & non-cancer terminal patients
Home/institutional hospice cases
Rare disease terminal patients (e.g., Niemann-Pick)
Families and bereaved
Institutional caregiver training targets
National Cheng Kung University Hospital Nursing Department's Hospice Home Care team, founded in 1996, comprises 21 hospice specialist physicians, 16 hospice home care nurses, 1 spiritual care chaplain, 1 music therapist, 1 hospice social worker, and many volunteers. The team builds a comprehensive five-all (whole person/family/journey/team/community) holistic home-based palliative care model. 24/7 service 365 days/year (including night emergency visits and phone consultation); single-window coordination of consultations and case transitions; integration with community physicians and independent home care institutions creates a seamless "home-ER-hospice ward" chain. Innovative care tools include oral hygiene night lights, simple bedside urinary catheters, portable bed-bath kits; smart health bracelets help monitor disease progression. The team developed Taiwan's first "hospice precision care" model adapting services to patient needs. From 2018 to 2021, home-death rate rose from 70% to 81% (#1 in Taiwan, #1 worldwide). Indicators surpass national benchmarks: 3-day urgent response, anticipatory and responsive care. Hospice home care volume is 25× the national average. Published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care (SCI Q1). Awards: 2021 Nightingale Award, 2020 Hospice Palliative Benchmark Hospital.
Taiwan-first hospice precision care
24/7 service with night emergencies
Seamless home-ER-hospice ward chain
Innovative oral light/bed-bath/smart bracelet
Only unit providing advanced training internships
Multi-specialist home visits
16 hospice home care nurses
21 hospice specialist physicians
2020 service 25× national average
2020 home deaths: 432
Institutional deaths 33→76 (2018-2021)
Trained HK & independent home care
Home-death rate 70%→81% (2018-2021)
#1 in Taiwan and worldwide
14-day readmission better than benchmark
24-hr post-discharge visit reduces 72-hr readmission
Anticipatory/responsive care exceeds national
38.1% 3-day urgent need resolution
Standardized end-of-life life-sustaining order sheet
Rapid ER awareness of patient condition
Reduces excessive ER intervention
Hospice specialist review
Standardized SAS/PCPSS symptom assessment
Institutional family meetings with families/nurses
Donations from grateful families
Patients fulfill home-death wishes
"Thankful for NCKUH hospice home care" testimonials
Recognized by domestic/intl visitors
483-day care saved NT$240K in medical costs
Family reunion brings smiles to terminal patients
2021 Nightingale Award
2020 Hospice Palliative Benchmark Hospital
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care SCI Q1
Invited intl lecturer
Intl medical visits & training
World-leading home-death rate
Influenced policy on home use of controlled substances
Only advanced training internship in Taiwan
Cooperates with primary care & nursing institutions
Knowledge transfer to HK hospice home care
Promotes hospice care expansion
NHI resource savings; medical philanthropy