Quality of Care Reaffirmed through Interdepartmental ISO 9001 Certification

In accordance with its plans of attaining JCI reaccreditation in July, Min-Sheng recently obtained the ISO 9001 International Certification. The certification affirms that the hospital meets international standards of high quality management systems. The evaluation included a written review, as well as field visits by an SGS assessment team composed of medical experts.
Min-Sheng’s testing center first received ISO 9001: 2000 and ISO 15189 certifications in 2003. This year, the hospital intends to extend the ISO 15189 certification to 120 different centers. All testing center facilities are in accordance with certification standards and a comprehensive management program has already been established. The program has been incorporated into the laboratory, the Medical Imaging Division, and the Pharmacy Department. The program promotes the awareness of quality to ISO standardization and the maintenance of quality care.

Min-Sheng has continually provided user friendly, high quality medical care in recent years through various types of national and international accreditations, including the Regional Teaching Hospital accreditation, JCI accreditation, and JDSC-AMI international certification. These certifications not only integrate domestic and international health care standards, but will also ensure the hospital maintains world class standards of care.

Min-Sheng’s Dr. Zheng: A Paradigm of High Quality Health Care

According to the Bureau of National Insurance, in Taiwan, the so called “Kingdom of Dialysis,” the first 5 of the country’s largest 20 outpatient clinics are dialysis centers. Min-Sheng’s dialysis center has entered into a strategic alliance with the world’s largest health care provider in order to offer high quality patient care services. In turn, this will foster Min-Sheng’s good reputation and provide international visibility.

The outstanding success of Min-Sheng’s renal dialysis center can be attributed to its director, Dr. Zheng. Dr. Zheng began as a renal physician at Min-Sheng more than twenty years ago, and in that time, he has served as both director of internal medicine and as vice president of Min-Sheng’s flagship Jin-Kuo campus.

Led by cooperation between Dr. Zheng’s kidney center health care team and Asia Pacific companies, the Min-Sheng dialysis center has been supplied with the high quality 4008-S dialysis machine and the biocompatible Polysulphone. Through the strategic alliance, although having already achieved a status of world class health care, the service amount has continued to grow in multiples. Dr. Zheng stated that Min-Sheng’s kidney center strives to construct a platform of market indicators. He also pointed out that Taiwan has a lot of dialysis patients who suffer through daily dialysis treatments. He emphasized that his team provides professional and humane care to each of its patients in order to achieve the best therapeutic result.

In the end, Dr. Zheng stressed that the purpose of medical institutions is not profit, but to change lives. He concluded that the key factors in the success of the kidney center were the full support of senior management and all health care colleagues.

On the verge of accepting an assignment at St. Paul’s Hospital, Dr. Zheng said that he won’t forget to return to the medical aspect of his duties because at the end of the day, he is simply a doctor. He added that doctors need to remind themselves at all times that the duties of a good physician are a dedication to health care, adherence to high quality care, and a sincere concern for the continued health of mankind.

Investing in Human Capital

Talent is the essence of enterprise. Decision is the key to international competitiveness. In order to enhance the enterprise's core competitiveness, the Min-Sheng Healthcare System not only created a knowledge sharing system, but for the past three years, its associates have achieved an acceptance rate of greater than 90% into many top graduate schools, revealing Min-Sheng’s strong foundation and formidable and competitive talent base.

The primary requirement in the development of competitiveness is the training of personnel. During the past three years, Min-Sheng’s associates have been admitted to such famous graduate schools as National Taiwan University, Chengchi University, Chung Yuan Christian University and Fu Jen Catholic University. Overall, a total of 50 master’s degrees have been obtained, an excellent show of competitiveness.

Min-Sheng has cooperated with Yuan Ze University to establish an EMBA for its employees. Additionally, it is currently working with several local universities to promote industry-university cooperation in order to create a platform for personnel training, enhance employee competitiveness and operations management know-how. Min-Sheng is Taiwan’s first health care system to make an attempt at cultivating an international perspective, innovative strategic thinking, and team management personnel in order to compete more effectively in the international medical arena.

Chairman Yang Min-Sheng stated that the nurturing of talents has become an indicator of competitiveness. He added that sustainable development of the Min-Sheng Healthcare System enables it to “implement an organizational culture, pursue excellence, and grow strong. “

Chairman Yang also stated that as a result of globalization, health care appears to be following the trend of internationalization. Beginning in 2005, Min-Sheng began recruiting talented professionals and working closely with academic institutions to establish a systematic mechanism to obtain personnel and remain competitive in the future global economy.

Min-Sheng Healthcare System and Kai Nan University Sign Agreement

Health care is one of Taiwan’s star industries. On May 21, 2009, the Min-Sheng Healthcare System and Kainan University gathered together in the Min-Sheng General Hospital conference room to sign an agreement which will enhance education and teaching, as well as the publication of academic research capabilities.

Additionally, the two sides will engage in community service, hospital internships, teaching support and academic research, and medical technology training. Kai Nan and Min-Sheng have also jointly established three departments, including the Seniors Health Department, the Department of Nutrition, and the Seniors Health Promotion Department. Min-Sheng will provide Kai Nan University with lecturers, such as VP Li Wei-Jie, VP Chen Peng-Xuan, Dr. Wang Xian-Guo, Dr. Chen Tai-Qi, Dr. Wei Tian-Shan, Dr. Zhang Jian-Zhi, Dr. Su Min-Zheng, Dr. Wei Ri-Hua, and so on. Through resource sharing and talent exchange, both parties are looking forward to becoming rising stars within the medical industry.

Actuarial Society of Medical Scholars to Hold Long-term Care Seminar

In response to the needs of an aging society, the Taiwan government has been actively promoting programs such as the Long-term Care System Pilot Program, and the New Century Health Care Plan. A long-term care insurance system for senior citizens has become a topic of hot debate. In line with government policies, the Actuarial Society of Medical Scholars and Experts will hold a seminar on May 21, 2009 to discuss the topics of long-term care insurance and the future of elder care.

The Actuarial Society of the Republic of China relies on the knowledge of interdisciplinary sciences and statistical mathematics to implement the rational use of medical resources. Min-Sheng Health Care System Chairman, Dr. Yang Min-Sheng, has been the chairman of the Actuarial Society for more than four years.

He pointed out that the Actuarial Society will hold its sixth annual meeting in order to discuss topics, such as the association’s future direction, the development planning for this year, new member qualifications, the annual meeting date, and Taiwan’s long-term care industry and insurance plan meeting

Additionally, the May 21st seminar will include topics such as Taiwan’s long-term care insurance and long-term care industry and the utilization of remote care, or U-Care. It is hoped that the meeting will lay the ground work for a long-term academic insurance study that will be completed with three years. The study aims to educate people and lead to the construction of a complete long-term care system which will meet the diverse needs of the elderly community.

Min-Sheng and Japan to Begin Fighting Dementia Together

Through the Min-Sheng Health Care System and the Taiwan Dementia Association, a Japanese delegation was invited to Taiwan on April 25. The main purpose of the trip was to promote dementia care and the prevention of dementia through the exchange of experiences. It was hoped that the trip to Taiwan would allow both countries to express their deep concerns for patients with dementia and the elderly in order to create a better society.

Dementia Society Secretary General Tang stressed that the dementia care community will be an important issue to face in the future. The society encourages elders to participate in activities such as gymnastics, art, nostalgia and tourism in order to slow the onset of dementia.

The Tokyo Research Institute points out that participating in tourist activities can effectively enhance the activation of brain cells while arousing a sense of community involvement, which may relax mild dementia in the elderly.

$31.5 billion NTD Will Be Spent Caring for Taiwanese Suffering from Dementia
The executive director of the Taiwan Society of Dementia stated that the current number of Taiwanese suffering from dementia is approximately 150,000 people, but within the next ten years, the number will reach 200,000. He believes, therefore, that the construction of social welfare resources and planning for a long-term care system will be necessary in the future.

Low Healthcare Cost Is Taiwan’s Competitive Advantage with regard to International Medical Tourism
According to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, data show that were the Japanese to come to Taiwan for health checks and PET (brain CT and possible diagnosis of dementia), they would save $80,000 NTD. Moreover, they could also partake in recreation and tourism, thus bolstering both the medical and tourist industries.

In the short term, Min-Sheng and its Japanese partners will reach a consensus on a period of less than one month for a “short stay,” which includes a brain CT scan, prescriptions, and health promotion activities designed to effectively help the Japanese slow the advance of dementia. In the long run, Min-Sheng will integrate the services of its Yide Conservation Center and health park to allow Taiwanese and Japanese seniors to live longer and to enjoy nature and leisure activities.

Min-Sheng Holds JCIDSC International Hospital Accreditation Seminar

Min-Sheng General Hospital’s JCIDSC Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care and International Hospital Accreditation Seminar was held a few days ago.

Min-Sheng General Hospital, the first and only hospital in Taiwan to complete the JDSC medical certification and new JCI hospital accreditation, offered the seminar to assist Taiwan’s medical community in better understanding the certification and accreditation processes. A number of renowned guests attended the seminars, including the JCI Asia-Pacific Region Chief Representative Dr. Paul Chang, and National Taiwan University Hospital Vice President Chung-Li Wang among others.
During the event, Chi-Sum Kang quoted Bill Gates of Harvard University, saying that “the greatest achievements of humanity come not from new discoveries, but from how we’ve applied the new discoveries.” Mr. Kang went on to add that their cardiovascular model is a flexible application which follows the latest US guidelines for the treatment of myocardial infarction, so that the survival rate of patients with cardiovascular disease continues to increase along with the quality of care.

The seminar received a warm response and Director Kang was invited to a series of lectures regarding JCDSC-AMI. The JCDSC-AMI certification has greatly enhanced the image of Min-Sheng’s Department of Cardiovascular Medicine.