HIV-infected individuals (and their family members) receiving treatment at Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital.

The HIV Care Team of Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital has long integrated resources from industry, government, and academia, dedicating itself to HIV prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, personalized comorbidity management, and cross-generational integrated care. Since 1997, the team has pioneered anonymous HIV screening services in southern Taiwan and was designated by the Centers for Disease Control as a specialized HIV care hospital. In 1998, the "Red Ribbon Fellowship" was established to provide daily life guidance, stress management, and medical consultation services for people living with HIV. In response to the lack of resources for female HIV patients in Taiwan, the "Female HIV Support Group" was initiated in 2008, strengthening support for vulnerable populations and promoting positive parenting across generations. Since 2017, the team has established partnerships with friendly long-term care facilities, building a comprehensive referral platform. In 2018, personalized comorbidity screening and vaccination recommendations were introduced to enhance health promotion and risk management. Since 2024, the team has actively promoted a friendly medical environment, becoming the only systematically organized medical center team in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung region dedicated to delivering seamless, high-quality, holistic HIV integrated care.

2021

• Outstanding HIV Care Nurse and Case Manager Award: Hsiang-Yi Lo, Case Manager

• Dr. Po-Liang Lu collaborated in authoring Chapter 9, “Post-Exposure Management Following Occupational Exposure to HIV,” in the 6th Edition of the Taiwan HIV Testing and Treatment Guidelines

2022

• Merit Award in the 2022 HIV Microfilm Creation Competition organized by the HIV/AIDS Prevention Foundation for Nursing Personnel: Hsiang-Yi Lo, Case Manager

2023

• NHQA National Healthcare Quality Award – Gold Award: “Generational Care with Compassion in HIV Care”

• SNQ National Quality Certification Mark: “Comprehensive, Person-Centered Care for People Living with HIV”

2024

• Executive Yuan Anti-Drug Contribution Award (Group Award and Individual Award): Hsiang-Yi Lo, Case Manager

2025

• TSAA Taiwan Sustainable Action Award – Bronze Award: “Equitable and Sustainable HIV Care”

The current core team consists of 11 infectious disease specialists responsible for clinical care, medication assessment, and comorbidity management (as of April 30, 2025, a total of 1,804 people living with HIV are regularly followed at KMUH outpatient clinics, with an outpatient physician-to-patient ratio of 164:1); 4 case managers who serve as a bridge between the healthcare system and community resources, providing follow-up, referrals, and health education support; 20 ward nurses (38 acute care beds, inpatient nurse-to-patient ratio of 8.6:1) who deliver inpatient nursing care and health education, and assess whether cross-departmental integrated transitional care should be initiated during the acute care phase; 2 anonymous testing assistants who conduct outreach screening and preliminary health education at sites serving high-risk populations; and 2 research assistants responsible for coordination among research units and participant enrollment.

• Hepatitis C cure rate reached 99.3%

• Latent tuberculosis completion (cure) rate reached 100%

• Mpox vaccine second-dose completion rate 94%, overall vaccination coverage 75%

• Transitional linkage established with 13 long-term care institutions, with 32 individuals referred

• Correct awareness of U=U among healthcare workers increased from 41% to 97.7%

• Hepatitis C treatment:** As of April 30, 2025, among 160 people living with HIV who received direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy at our hospital, 158 have completed treatment, achieving a cure rate of 98.7%. A total of 13 cases of reinfection or relapse were identified; 10 of these received DAA retreatment at our hospital, with a cure rate of 100%. No complications or adverse events occurred during treatment or throughout follow-up.

• Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment: As of December 31, 2024, among 51 people living with HIV who received LTBI treatment at our hospital, 43 have completed treatment and 2 are currently undergoing treatment, resulting in an overall treatment completion (cure) rate of 84.3%. During 2020–2021, six patients did not complete treatment due to medication-related adverse effects (e.g., hepatitis). After treatment discontinuation and follow-up, no sequelae or irreversible serious adverse events were observed.

From 2020 to 2025, annual multi-dimensional questionnaire surveys (400–450 responses per year) showed that satisfaction with 「healthcare service delivery」 consistently remained above 95%.

• Since 2022, a total of 6 poster presentations and 1 oral presentation related to this work have been presented at international conferences.

• Since 2021, members of the KMUH HIV care team have published a total of 10 papers as first or corresponding authors.

• Comprehensive management of chronic comorbidities: Hepatitis C screening coverage exceeded 90% in late 2024, achieving a 98.7% cure rate. LTBI treatment completion reached 100% in both 2022 and 2023, while Mpox vaccination coverage surpassed that of many benchmark HIV-designated hospitals nationwide.

• Promotion of inclusive healthcare: Educational outreach across nursing and clinical departments increased awareness of U=U from 41% to 97.7%, fostering a stigma-free and discrimination-free healthcare environment.

• Pioneer in women-centered HIV care: The team established Taiwan’s first gathering for women living with HIV and first support group for HIV-positive mothers, providing continuous support from preconception and pregnancy through parenting while empowering women to overcome stigma and rebuild self-worth.

• First multidisciplinary integrated HIV-friendly clinic: Multiple specialty consultations are completed in a single visit, reducing referrals and improving care coordination through real-time interdisciplinary communication.

• First cross-sector long-term care transitional care platform: Since 2017, partnerships with 13 HIV-friendly long-term care institutions have supported successful transitions for 32 people living with HIV, ranking first nationwide. Annual caregiver training programs ensure sustainable, high-quality long-term care.