Min-Sheng General Hospital Cosmetic Center promotes the benefits of Autologous Fat Transfer

Men and women seeking to eliminate some of the facial “wear and tear” brought by years, but who don’t want to undergo a face lift or facial plastic surgery, are increasingly opting for facial fat injections. This method of “facial fat sculpting” can restore attractive contours to the chin, cheeks, and under-eye area, as well as add volume to lips. Microlipoinjection , also called Autologous Fat Transfer, is a procedure in which a patient's own body fat is used to plump up sunken or emaciated areas of the face or to add volume where desired. It is called "autologous" because it refers to the use of one's own tissues or fat. Likewise, Autologous Fat Transfer is a popular option for breast augmentation as an alternative to traditional breast implants.

Since the patient's own fat is used, Autologous Fat Transfer is performed in three steps. The first step involves the gentle liposuction of some excess fat in the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. Fats cells are then isolated, cleansed and purified before being injected in the targeted facial areas. The whole process which takes less than two hours is performed under local anesthesia; some patients choose to have more excess fat removed and combine the procedure with a liposuction. A significant benefit of using the patient’s own fat is that the results generally last much longer than the results of other dermal fillers. And there is no allergic reaction to worry about. Individual fat transfer results can vary, but with a properly performed procedure, the results may last for years.

Min-Sheng General Hospital’s highly skilled plastic surgeons have successfully performed numerous Autologous Fat Transfers. This quick and safe technique offers tangible results and is less expensive than other types of surgical facial rejuvenation options, making it an ideal procedure for foreigners visiting Taiwan for business or leisure.

International graduate students visit Min-Sheng General Hospital

International students and faculty from Taipei Medical University visited Min-Sheng General Hospital this week to gain insight on what has made Min-Sheng a leader in international health care in Taiwan.

Taipei Medical University launched a Master in Health Administration program in English two years ago, and these students are part of its first graduating class. Originating from Asia, Central America, Africa and the Caribbean, the visiting students are all doctors or medical professionals in their respective country.

The visitors were given a presentation of the strategies that Min-Sheng General Hospital initiated to position itself as an attractive destination for International Medical Tourists, and a tour of the facilities. The students showed a particular interest in the synergies between electronic and health care that Min-Sheng is developing in the field of telemedicine and patients administration.

Min-Sheng’s IHC attends international forum on Medical Tourism.

Members of the International Healthcare Department at Min-Sheng General Hospital attended the 2010 International Medical Forum held in Taipei November 22. The event was organized by TAITRA and the Taiwan Bureau of Foreign Trade, and attracted a diverse crowd of individuals and organizations interested in the implementation of medical tourism in Taiwan.

Speakers included Mr. Jonathan Edelheit, CEO of the Medical Tourism Association, an international nonprofit organization committed to promoting health care across borders, Mr. Dan Snyder President and CEO of Asia Pacific Health Partners and former CEO of Parkway Holdings in Singapore, Asia’s largest private integrated healthcare company, and Dr. Junaidi Ismail, Director Business Development & Corporate Affairs at Prince Court Medical Center in Malaysia.

Min-Sheng Hospital has been actively involved in medical tourism for several years, and is widely perceived as a leader in this field in Taiwan. Mr. William Hoyois of Min-Sheng’s international healthcare department engaged in extended private conversations with the international speakers, exchanging information and strengthening old relationships.

Leading International Architecture and Urban design Firm visits Min-Sheng Hospital

A group of executives from RTKL and Associates, a leading architecture, engineering and urban design firm headquartered in Baltimore, USA, visited Min-Sheng General Hospital this week. The group was lead by Mr. Greg Yager, Senior Vice President and Director of Urban Design who also heads the firm’s office in Shanghai.

RTKL has been present for more than twenty years in China where it has designed and planned many high profile development projects, including Shanghai’s China Science and Technology Museum, Guangzhou’s Railway Station, and the City Crossing Complex in Shenzhen, among others. RTKL is a full-service design firm and its area of expertise also includes health care facilities; RTKL is the principal designer of the Changzheng New Pudong Hospital in Shanghai which at 2200 beds will be the largest new facility built in a single phase in China.

The visitors were received by a management team from MissionCare, the parent company of Min-Sheng Hospital, and given an extensive tour of the hospital’s facilities. Mr. Yager said he was impressed by Min-Sheng’s level of commitment to service quality and to improving the processes for dealing with patients’ care. The decision by the government to go ahead with its project to develop a Medical Tourism Zone near the international transport hub of Taoyuan is generating the interest of a lot of domestic and international companies eager to combine expertise for the mixed-use project.

Aetna International members now enjoy cashless outpatient treatment at Min-Sheng General Hospital.

Beginning November 1, 2010, patients participating in Aetna International and GoodHealth/China Life’s health plans will enjoy cashless handling of their outpatient treatment at Min-Sheng General Hospital. Aetna members who present a valid membership card and identification will now have their healthcare costs billed directly to Aetna for treatment of less than US $500. Patients will still be responsible for the co-payment as stipulated in their policy, and certain items are not-covered by this agreement.

Until now only hospitalization and charges of more than US$500 were covered by a billing agreement (after pre-authorization); for general outpatient treatment Aetna members had to settle the bill first and claim reimbursement from the insurer. Because of Min-Sheng General Hospital’s proximity to The Taoyuan International Airport, this service convenience is of particular interest to those among the increasing number of Mainland Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan who are Aetna members through China Life.

Min-Sheng General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Primary Care Policy Center looking at working together.

In prelude to the symposium on public health that took place at Min-Sheng General Hospital, guests and speakers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health were received at Min-Sheng’s Health Park in Dashi. They were briefed on the activities and projects of the MissionCare Group and Dr. Fred Yang, the CEO of the group, extended an invitation to the Schools’ Primary Care Policy Center to join Min-Sheng Hospital in seeking ways to further improve the health of the population of the greater Taoyuan region.

In a letter of Interest signed by Dr. Yang Min-Sheng, Chairman of Min-Sheng General Hospital, and Dr. Leiyu Shi, director of the Johns Hopkins Primary Care Policy Center, the parties expressed their intention to explore ways to work together on a variety of issues and projects. After the signing ceremony the participants voiced their hope that this event will mark the dawn of a fruitful collaboration.

Johns Hopkins Faculty speak on Public Health at Min-Sheng General Hospital

Saturday December 23, Min-Sheng general Hospital played host to an international symposium on Public Health Policy jointly organized with the Taoyuan County Public Health Bureau. The organizing committee had invited prominent academics from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the world’s leading institution dedicated to the training of public health professionals, to share their experience on a variety of topics.

Dr. James Yager, Professor in Preventive Medicine at the School, spoke about environmental determinants of cancer and possible strategies for the prevention of certain types of cancer. Rapid industrialization and the life style changes resulting from economic development are contributing to make cancer a global health problem; Dr. Yager elaborated on the opportunities and challenges for prevention that this presents.

Dr. Leiyu Shi, Professor in Health Policy and Management and co-director at The Johns Hopkins Primary Care Policy Center for the Underserved, told about the benefits of advancing primary care to improve community health. The topic is particularly relevant at a time when health care costs are spiraling out of control in many countries and governments are looking for ways to rein in expenditure.

Dr. Chiang Tung-Liang, Professor and Dean of the College of Public Health at National Taiwan University and one of the fathers of the National Health Insurance in Taiwan, presented the achievements and short comings of the universal coverage system, and looked at the future of public health in the ROC and at the challenges still laying in the way of health equity.

For Min-Sheng General Hospital the symposium was another opportunity to reaffirm its commitment towards improving the health of the population of Taoyuan County, while raising its profile and profess its international ambitions.

Chinese health professionals visit Min-Sheng General Hospital

Hospital managers and public health officials from Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China, visited Min-Sheng General Hospital on their fact finding tour of Taiwan. With a population in excess of 10-million, Wuhan is the largest city and the de facto capital of Central China.

The visitors who belong to the Wuhan chapter of the Medical Association of China were welcomed by Dr. Chang Yang-Chyuan, Min-Sheng Hospital’s Superintendent, and given a tour of the facilities after a presentation about Min-Sheng Health System. Faced with large crowds of patients in their hospitals, the guests were particularly interested in the steps that Min-Sheng General Hospital has taken to facilitate the flow of patients and increase the efficiency of its services.

Min-Sheng General Hospital to Host International Symposium on Public Health Policies

Min-Sheng General Hospital will be hosting an international symposium on public health policies at its Ching Kuo Campus Saturday, October 23, 2010. Invited speakers are prominent faculty members of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and leading academics and policy makers in Taiwan. Among others are Professor James Yager, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School, Professor Lei-Yu Shi the Director of Johns Hopkins’s Primary Care Policy Center, and Professor Tung-Liang Chiang, Dean of the School of Public Health of National Taiwan University. They will be discussing issues of preventive medicine, primary care and community medicine.

Prior to the symposium, Dr. Fred Yang, the CEO of Missioncare will extend an invitation to Johns Hopkins School of Public Health to explore ways to cooperate to further improve the state of public health in Taiwan. As the pioneer and leader in the implementation of international quality standards in health care organizations in Taiwan, Min-Sheng General Hospital is keen to gain advice and expertise from the prestigious institution.

The event is organized by the Taoyuan County Department of Health, under the aegis of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of China, and is sponsored by Missioncare the parent company of Min-Sheng General Hospital, and Education Development Corporation (EDC) the agent of the DrPh program with the Bloomberg School of Public Health in Asia.

Min-Sheng General Hospital receives Gold Award for English Service

Min-Sheng general Hospital was presented with the Gold Award for English Services by the Executive Yuan, the of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The award is given to Taiwanese institutions and businesses that offer English-friendly environment and service to their patrons, following a thorough investigation by the China Productivity Center that includes on-site visits by English speaking foreigners.

Min-Sheng General Hospital embarked several years ago in a program aimed at turning the hospital into an international center of excellence. An International Health care Center was established to lead and assist in the changes, and become the service platform between Min-Sheng and its international patients and partners. Foreign patients at Min-Sheng General Hospital will find English signage throughout the hospital, most documents (e.g. doctors and fees schedules, medicine instruction sheets, admission and consent forms, etc.) in English, and staff proficient in several languages ready to assist with translation if necessary. The hospital also set up an English website and two blogs to inform foreigners living in Taiwan and abroad about its services and activities.

Patients who travel to Min-Sheng General Hospital from overseas for surgical packages organized by the hospital’s International Health care Center are assigned an English speaking case manager who assists them at every step of their stay, ensuring seamless service and a comfortable experience.

American doctor travels to Min-Sheng to observe latest weight loss surgery techniques

Min-Sheng General Hospital’s Bariatric Surgery Center has for a while now attracted patients from abroad for weight loss surgery performed by the most experienced team in Asia, and at competitive prices. Its reputation for excellence also attracts surgeons from across Asia, and even America, who want to gain first hand knowledge and experience of the latest cutting edge techniques used at Min-Sheng.

Dr. Steven Fowler from Aloha Surgeries in Hawaii, USA, is one of the most experienced specialists for gastric banding and gastric bypass in that state; he recently came to Taiwan to observe Professor Lee Wei-Jei perform Roux-en-Y bypasses using the two-entry-ports techniques. Although by-pass surgery using one, two or three entry ports is routinely performed at Min-Sheng General Hospital, doctors in America still mostly use the 5-entry-ports technique. Dr. Fowler is keen to introduce the two-entry-ports technique at his hospital and traveled from Hawaii to gain the necessary experience.

Although the techniques is not applicable to all patients, the reduced number of surgical wounds offers advantages both cosmetic and in pain management.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Min-Sheng General Hospital… not only for divers.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than at atmospheric pressure. It was initially developed to treat divers suffering from decompression sickness or gas embolism. Many other applications have since been found for this painless procedure in which a person is exposed to increased pressure, thus allowing greater absorption of oxygen throughout the body tissues. This increased pressure allows more oxygen to reach the cells within the body therefore contributing to many healing and therapeutic benefits. In other words, when utilizing HBOT, oxygen is gently forced into the tissues, organs, brain and fluids throughout the body thanks to the pressurization of the hyperbaric chamber.

This oxygen influx stimulates cell growth and regeneration, displaces toxins and other impurities to assist in the detoxification of the body, and since bacteria and viruses typically cannot tolerate oxygen it also reinforces the immune system. These are some of the properties that explain why Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is currently used to treat a variety of ailments like carbon monoxide poisoning, crush/trauma injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, problem wounds, or severe anemia. In America, physicians refer patients to hospitals with hyperbaric chambers for treatment if they suffer from one, or more, of the thirteen conditions which are approved by the FDA. In Taiwan the use of HBOT for treatment of these conditions is covered by the National Health Insurance. Research suggests that the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can also be used in the treatment of many other “off-label” (non-FDA approved) conditions ranging from migraine to multiple sclerosis, and to improve the body’s general well being or speed up its recovery time after exercising.

The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center at Min-Sheng General Hospital was established eight years ago by Dr. Chen Shing-Han, and treats several hundred patients every month. In recent years an increasing number of these patients were referred to the center by dental and cosmetic clinics to help alleviate the pain and speed up the recovery associated with some of their procedures. Min-Sheng’s Hyperbaric Center is equipped with two multiplace chambers; the smaller chamber is located in a dedicated spa environment and can be converted into a monoplace chamber for those who wish for the comfort and privacy that such chambers afford. All HBOT sessions are conducted under medical supervision, and patients (referred or not) will see a physician specializing in hyperbaric medicine before starting any treatment. The Center is open from Monday to Friday and is located on the second floor of the hospital.

Free screenings for four types of cancer available at Min-Sheng General Hospital

The Taoyuan Branch of the Department of Health of the ROC has appointed Min-Sheng General Hospital to participate in its cancer prevention campaign. All those, including foreign residents, who are enrolled in the National Health Insurance program and meet the criteria can now receive a free screening for gastrointestinal, oral, breast, or cervical cancer.

Men and women aged 50 to 69 are eligible for a free screening for gastrointestinal cancer once every two years. Those interested will be provided with a special container to collect a stool sample that should be returned to the OPD laboratory on the second floor of Min-Sheng’s Ching- Kuo Campus.

Smokers and people chewing betel nut aged 30 or more can apply for an oral cancer screening at the dental and ENT clinics on the third floor.

Women aged between 45 and 70, and those aged 40 to 45 with a family history of breast cancer, can receive a free breast cancer screening once every two years at the radiography center located in the second basement.

Finally, all women aged 30 or more can receive a free Pap-smear once a year to help detect cervical cancer at the OB and GYN clinics on the second floor.

A special window is open at the Clinics Registration Counter to register and provide information to all those interested in this free service. Present your NHI card and mention the type of screening that you’d like to undergo, and the attendant will provide you with instructions. Oral, gastrointestinal and cervical cancer screenings are available from Monday to Saturday; breast cancer screenings can be done every day.

The Dialysis Center at Min-Sheng General Hospital serves local patients and foreign visitors alike.

When Prince Court Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, looked for a dialysis center to treat one of its patients planning a trip to Taiwan, it contacted Min-Sheng General hospital to make the arrangements. This episode underlines the plight of thousands of people with renal problems who require dialysis several times a week, whether they are at home or traveling abroad. People with such conditions should not be deterred from traveling; they just need more planning and attention.

The Dialysis Center at Min-Sheng Hospital is the perfect place for this type of travelers. The 56-bed center is equipped with the latest Fresenius machines and is staffed with four nephrologists, forty-two nurses and two technicians. The center which offers Conventional Hemodialysis, High efficiency Hemodialysis, High flux hemodialysis, and Peritoneal Dialysis is open six days a week (from Monday to Saturday) from 7:30 in the morning until 10:30 at night for the greatest convenience of the patients.

With a focus on quality care and safety, the center implements strict infection control procedures; hollow fibers membranes are single-use only, all the equipment goes through stringent daily monitoring and is maintained by a team of in-house experienced technicians. In 2009, Min-Sheng General Hospital’s Dialysis Center was surveyed by Joint Commission International (JCI), the international arm of Joint Commission the body that reviews all hospitals in the USA, and became the first hospital in the world to be awarded CCP (Clinical Care Program) Certification for its chronic kidney disease program.

Foreign visitors in need of dialysis treatment while staying in Taiwan are welcome to the center. Advance booking is required and treatment can be tailored to meet personal requirements. People interested in using the services of the Dialysis Center should contact the International Healthcare Department of Min-Sheng General Hospital that will make the necessary arrangements.

Min-Sheng General Hospital and Delaware American Life enter cooperation agreement.

DelAmLife is the latest international insurance company to choose Min-Sheng General Hospital as a preferred medical partner in Taiwan.

Delaware American Life Insurance Company (DelAmLife), an affiliate of ALICO, is the underwriter of the Atlas Expatriate Benefits plans in the United States. Atlas Expatriate Benefits plans were developed specifically to meet the medical needs of globally mobile employees and can be tailored to accommodate individual clients' requirements.

Thanks to the agreement signed between DelAm and Min-Sheng General Hospital, the hospital will charge DelAm directly for the medical costs incurred by Atlas Expatriate Benefit members in Taiwan, within the limits of their personal plan. Atlas Expatriate Benefit members in Taiwan include employees of multinational corporations, large hotel chains, legal firms, and foreign embassies.

More than a dozen International Health Insurance and assistance companies from America, Japan and Europe have signed cooperation agreements with Min-Sheng in order to facilitate the care and handling of their clients.

International specialists gather at Min-Sheng to discuss the use of bariatric surgery to treat Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Min-Sheng General Hospital recently hosted the first Asian Diabetes Surgery Summit that looked at the therapeutic option that some weight loss surgical procedures offer to patients suffering from Type II Mellitus Diabetes. Surgeons and endocrinologists from across Asia and the United States gathered to share their experience, and discuss the latest developments in metabolic surgery.

Type II Diabetes Mellitus is a pandemic that affects almost 3% of the global population. It is estimated that by 2025 380 million people world wide will suffer from the disease, many of them in Asia. Type 2 diabetes is due primarily to lifestyle factors and genetics. A sedentary lifestyle, excessive weight and hypertension are often the trigger to developing the disease. Diabetes is difficult to cure and treatment currently focuses on containing and managing the disease. Life style modifications and strict compliance to diet and drug regimen are paramount in treating diabetes. However, current therapies are far from ideal and the condition of the patient often deteriorates and affects the quality of his or her life.

The first reports suggesting that bariatric surgery may be useful in the treatment of Type II diabetes Mellitus, even in non-morbidly obese patients, appeared in the medical literature 15 years ago. Studies have since shown that more than 80 % of diabetic patients undergoing a weight loss procedure like a gastric bypass, or gastric sleeve regain normal blood sugar control, and resolve their diabetes type II problem. This is especially true for younger patients and patients who have been suffering from diabetes for a shorter period of time. More recently, it has been discovered that bariatric surgery has specific metabolic effects and can improve diabetes even before a significant weight loss has been achieved. Gastric bypass patients routinely see their diabetes disappear within days or weeks after surgery.

Doctors are now starting to wonder if surgery is equally effective in less heavy patients. This is of foremost importance for Asians suffering from Type II diabetes because Asians typically have a higher body fat percentage than Caucasians, which explains why they often develop diabetes at a lower weight and BMI (Body Mass Index). The consensus among professionals is now that Bariatric surgery should be considered for the treatment of diabetes Type II in patients with a BMI of 35 or more, and that it may also be appropriate to treat patients who are mildly obese (BMI 30-35 kg/m2) and are inadequately controlled by lifestyle and medical therapy. The contention is whether the same results can be simulated in diabetics who are not obese, and studies are currently being conducted to evaluate the efficacy and availability of laparoscopic bariatric surgery for Type II Diabetes Mellitus patients with BMI of less than 30. Positive results could shift the paradigm in the treatment of Type II diabetes from managing the disease to actually curing it.

Min-Sheng Hospital hosts Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery workshop

In prelude to the first Asian Diabetes Surgery Summit that took place in its facilities, Min-Sheng General Hospital hosted a workshop on Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) featuring live demonstrations of different weight loss surgical procedures using this technique.

Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS), also referred to as single-port Access (SPA) surgery or laparoscopic endoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) is the latest development in laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a type of minimally invasive abdominal surgery performed through small incisions, using tiny video equipment to allow the surgeon to see what he is doing on the inside. The abdominal cavity is often inflated with gas in order to provide working space and small surgical tools pass through ports placed through the incisions enabling the surgeon to perform the procedure internally in the same way it would be done through an open incision.

The advantages of laparoscopic surgery stem from the small size of the incisions made during the procedure. Smaller incisions result in less blood loss during surgery, and in smaller wounds that reduce the risk of infection, are less painful, and shorten the recovery time. Other advantages are a better cosmetic effect and patients discharged sooner which lessens overall costs.

Often used for gastrointestinal, gynecologic and urology surgery, laparoscopic surgery has made tremendous progress over the past twenty years, and is now routinely performed for various bariatric (weight loss) procedures. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to reduce the number of entry ports necessary to safely perform this type of surgery, and skilled surgeons are now able to operate by making a single incision in the navel through which they insert the multiple-instrument access port. SILS offers outstanding cosmetic results since the only scar, hidden in the navel, is barely visible, however it has not yet been established whether it significantly adds to the other advantages of conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Surgeons from across Asia and Taiwan who attended the workshop got to see, live from Min-Sheng Hospital’s operating rooms, several types of weight loss surgery (gastric sleeve, gastric bypass) performed using the single incision laparoscopic (SILS) technique.

Min-Sheng General Hospital is a leading center for Bariatric (weight loss) surgery in Asia.

Min-Sheng to handle medical needs of Cathay Pacific Airways foreign crew in Taiwan

Cathay Pacific airways has chosen Min-Sheng General hospital as one of its healthcare providers to treat its crew members when they are in need of medical care while on layover in Taiwan. Cathay Pacific Airways operates over 200 weekly flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, and many of their crew stay in the Taoyuan area when on layover. From now on, if a crew member requires medical attention following a work related incident, or because of a condition having suddenly developed, he or she will find fast and effective treatment at Min-Sheng Hospital by following the channels that have been set up especially for the airline.

Min-Sheng General hospital has been working together with the Australian subsidiary of French Insurance giant AXA, which handles healthcare assistance for Cathay Pacific Airways, to establish the procedures that enable the speedy and cashless handling of the Cathay Pacific crew cases. The International Healthcare Department of Min-Sheng General Hospital is staffed with multilingual personnel that has experience dealing with foreign insurance companies, which makes for smooth and efficient communication between the hospital, the insurance staff in Australia, and the Cathay Pacific crew on the ground.

Min-Sheng Offers VIP Clinics for Fast-Track Medical Consultations

All adults in Taiwan, including foreigners who have been residing in the country for at least four months, pay into the National Health Insurance scheme and have therefore their medicals needs and those of their family covered by the plan. This internationally acclaimed health care coverage system is the envy of many foreign visitors, and makes it possible for everyone to access and afford the excellent healthcare provided across the island.

However, affordable quality healthcare also makes for “volume health care” and doctors often see large numbers of patients daily, leading to crowded waiting rooms and sometimes lack of privacy. Although this is usually accepted and endured light heartedly, some may want a more personalized service and increased privacy.

To cater to those patients Min-Sheng General Hospital offers the option of VIP Clinics for doctor consultation. It is possible to make an appointment with the doctor that you want, at a time that is convenient for you, and be seen in the luxurious environment (for most specialties) of the Executive Health Screening Center on the 21st floor of the hospital.

Patients receive personalized service from the moment they make an appointment until when they leave the hospital, and multilingual staff is on hand for foreign patients should they require help with translation. The outstanding service and increased convenience justify the higher registration fee charged to the patient, even though the price for the consultation remains the same.

If you want to know more about this service or want to make a booking (24 hours notice, no walk in), send a message to missioncare@e-ms.com.tw , or call 03/3179599 ext. 2076 or 2080.

Foreign Surgeons Travel to Min-Sheng Hospital for Training in Bariatric Surgery.

Min-Sheng Hospital was one of the first hospitals in Asia to establish a center for minimally invasive laporascopic surgery. The reputation of the center grew rapidly and has since crossed borders. Min-Sheng Hospital is now recognized internationally as a leader in endoscopic weight loss surgery, and hosts the head quarters of The Asia Pacific Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society.

Professor Lee Wei-Jei and his team have performed nearly 2500 bariatric procedures, more than any other institution in the region, and actively contribute to the development of new surgical techniques. Studies conducted over a large number of patients at Min-Sheng hospital have also added to the research establishing the positive effect of some types of bariatric procedures in curing patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Doctors from across Asia have for some time now been visiting and staying at Min-Sheng Hospital to gain first-hand knowledge and experience in the latest techniques and developments in bariatric and metabolic surgery. In June we welcomed six doctors and assistant professors from leading institutions in Korea, as well as two surgeons from Hanoi in Vietnam.

During their stay, the visiting doctors sat for lectures on diabetes and metabolic surgery, and attended live demonstrations of laporoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomies, Mini-Gastric bypasses and R-Y Gastric bypasses.

Min-Sheng General Hospital and Emergency Assistance Japan (EAJ) Enter Cooperation Agreement

Emergency Assistance Japan (EAJ) is the latest addition to a growing list of foreign health insurers and assistance companies that choose Min-Sheng General Hospital as a preferred medical partner in Taiwan.

Emergency Assistance Japan (EAJ) specializes in solutions for overseas travelers caught in sudden and unexpected circumstances, and requiring emergency medical services or medical transport. As well as preferential arrangements with premier Japanese medical institutions, EAJ maintains a worldwide network of relationships with medical providers and some of the oldest and most reputable assistance companies.

Because of its location close to Taoyuan International Airport, the gateway to Taiwan for international visitors, Min-Sheng General Hospital is strategically located to service foreign patients requiring emergency treatment. More than a dozen International Health Insurance and assistance companies from America and Europe have already signed cooperation agreements with Min-Sheng in order to facilitate the care and handling of their clients.

President of Korea Medical Tourism Association Visits Min-Sheng Hospital

Dr. Shin Young-Hoon, President of The Korea Medical Tourism Association (KMTA) visited Min-Sheng General Hospital while in Taiwan. Dr. Shin was in Taiwan to speak at the 2010 Taiwan International Medical Tourism Industry Conference organized by TAITRA, Taiwan's External Trade Development Council.





As President of the KMTA Dr. Shin was interested in visiting Min-Sheng General Hospital which is at the forefront of Medical Tourism in Taiwan. Dr. Shen was impressed by the level of readiness of the hospital and its JCI credentials. His associates from the Korea Medical Tourism Associations took numerous notes and pictures for reference in their hospital training classes.

Dr. Shin Young-Hoon who is a specialist is stem cell therapy expressed interest in working with Min-Sheng General Hospital, and both parties agreed to explore avenues to cooperate in the areas of Medical tourism and stem cell treatment.

Min-Sheng General Hospital to host First Asian Diabetes Surgery Summit

Min-Sheng General hospital in Taiwan will host the First Asian Diabetes Summit July 16 and 17, 2010. The summit will look at the medical and surgical aspects of Incretin based Therapy. Bariatric surgery has recently been extended to metabolic surgery because of the associated gut hormone change and Incretin Effect.


Organized by Min-Sheng Hospital's Bariatric & Diabetes Minimally invasive surgery center, the Diabetes Association of the Republic of China, and the Taiwan Association for Endoscopic Surgery, the summit is sponsored by the Taiwan Medical Association for the Study of Obesity, Taiwan Surgical Society of gastroenterology, and equipment maker Covidien. Speakers from across Asia and the United States will present the latest medical and surgical developments in the treatment of Diabetes Type II. Says Professor Lee Wei-Jei, Chairman of the organizing committee and Honorary President of the Asia Pacific Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society,"It is an appropriate time for gastro-intestinal metabolic surgeons in Asia to work with endocrinologists and all colleagues involved in the treatment of diabetes, to get together and share personal and institutional experience in the management of this disease.”

There will be a pre-congress live surgery workshop featuring Single Incision Laporoscopic Surgery (SILS) and Gastrointestinal Metabolic Surgery at Min-Sheng Hospital’s Minimally Invasive Surgery Center on Friday, July 16 with the main scientific congress taking place in the hospital's auditorium Saturday, July 17. Min-Sheng General Hospital is a leading center for bariatric surgery in Asia, and received JCI CCP Certification (formerly known as DCSC) for its Diabetes Mellitus Type II Program in 2009.

Introducing Min-Sheng General Hospital

Min-Sheng General Hospital is a 600-bed state of the art hospital located in Northern Taiwan, near the Taoyuan International Airport, and half way between the cities of Taipei and Hshin Chu that see most of the expats and business travelers in Taiwan. Since its humble beginnings as a 17-bed dispensary in 1975, Min-Sheng Hospital's Ching-Kuo campus has grown to become the flagship hospital of the Min-Sheng Group that comprises six hospitals and four long term care facilities.


Min-Sheng General Hospital specializes in minimally invasive surgeries and was one of the first hospitals in Asia to set up a center dedicated to endoscopic procedures. Min-Sheng General Hospital has close links with National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) to which it refers transplant patients, and with which it exchanges physicians for cross-training. More than eighty percent of the physicians at Min-Sheng General Hospital graduated from the prestigious university.

The current Min-Sheng General Hospital building was officially opened for service in 2001. This new building has twenty floors above ground (the elevators indicate twenty-three floors, but the fourth, ninth and thirteenth floor don't exist to reflect Chinese customs and superstitions) and seven floors underground. It has a total surface of 76000 Square Meters. On the hospital's grounds is a garden which design incorporates elements of Chinese Feng Shui such as water fountains and curved walls.

In 2006 Min-Sheng General Hospital looked to raise its international profile in order to showcase its offerings to international patients traveling abroad for surgical procedures. An international healthcare center was set up to deal with international patients and promote the hospital abroad. At about the same time, the hospital kicked off the process to obtain international accreditations and certifications. Min-Sheng General Hospital became the first hospital (2006) in Taiwan to be accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) the international arm of Joint Commission Resources, the body that accreditates hospitals in The U.S.A. The hospital has since pursued and obtained certifications for its Acute Myocardial Infarction (2008), Diabetes Mellitus Type II (2009), and Chronic Kidney Disease (2009) programs.