Introduction

Though men are mortal, their quality and dignity of life can still be preserved. To the patients at their terminal stage of life, hospice care is the mid-way retreat before their next destinations. We always hope to realize the ultimate dream of every patient and provide their family with a place as warm as their home. In this place, patients can spend their last days with their family, alleviate physical, psychological, and spiritual pain, and eventually fulfill their last wishes. To attain this goal, a hospice care unit was established at China Medical University Hospital in 2002 to provide terminal cancer patients with aggressive, satisfactory, and patient-oriented medical care featured with the combination of Chinese and Western medicine. It’s our belief that our hope will surely come true in this unit.

Indications

Our service is directed to terminal stage patients with physical symptoms requiring inpatient medical care or with severe psychosocial and spiritual problems after curative therapy considered inapplicable by the doctors. Patients and their family must agree to the principles and goals of hospice and palliative care. They should also recognize that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is considered torturous to patients, and it will not be performed once patients are at critical condition. If acute symptoms are under control, patients should be discharged and will continue hospice care at their own houses. National Health Insurance covers payment only for terminal state cancer patients and terminal stage patients of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Features of Our Service

1. Total care : We provide patient-oriented medical service to reduce patients’ physical pain.
2. Extension to patients’ family : We help patients’ family relieve their pressure and sorrow through listening, company, and concern.
3. Care throughout the course: We take care of the patients until the end of their lives.
4. A multidisciplinary team : We have a professional medical team consisting of experts from every field.
5. Extension to the community : We establish a strong home care system that meets patients’ demand even after they are back to the community.

Facilities

• We have a capacity of 15 beds, including 3 single rooms, and 3quadruple-bed room. We also create a home-like atmosphere in our facility; there are halls for both Buddhists and Christians, rooms designed for family gathering, a dining room, a bar, and a bathroom with a jaccuzi.

Charge

• The charge of our wards is the same as the charge in general wards.