Team from Shanghai's Huashan Hospital Complete Training at Min-Sheng General Hospital

A team from Huashan Hospital, a hospital affiliated with the prestigious Fudan University in Shanghai, China, has completed a week-long training at Min-Sheng General Hospital’s Bariatric and Metabolic Surgical Center.

 

 

The team composed of nurses and dieticians involved in the care of bariatric patients in their hospital came to learn about the functioning of a large and structured center. The participants got to watch and participate in the various stages of weight loss and metabolic patients care. The training program also included lectures on nutrition, sensitivity training, and program management.

The Bariatric Center at Min-Sheng General Hospital has gained a strong international reputation and attracts professionals from across Asia eager to learn from its experience. The Center offers a complete range of training programs, from observational visits to full clinical fellowships.

Bariatric Team from Hong Kong Comes to Min-Sheng General Hospital for Training

A team from the Prince of Wales Hospital, a hospital affiliated with the Chinese University of Hong Kong has arrived at Min-Sheng General Hospital for an observational training visit of the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgical Center.

 

 

 

The team composed of a surgeon, the program coordinator, and a nurse dealing with bariatric patients came to learn about the functioning of a large and structured center. While the surgeon was able to observe bariatric surgical procedures seldom performed in Hong Kong, the other participants got to watch and participate in the various stages of weight loss and metabolic patients care. The training program also included lectures on nutrition, sensitivity training, and program management.

The Bariatric Center at Min-Sheng General Hospital has gained a strong international reputation and attracts professionals from across Asia eager to learn from its experience. The Center offers a complete range of training programs, from observational visits to full clinical fellowships.

5th Asian Diabetes Surgery Summit held in Taipei

The 5th ADSS (Asian Diabetes Surgery Summit) was held in Taipei on Saturday, October 25. The event was organized by The Taiwan Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Diabetes Association of the Republic of China, and Min-Sheng General Hospital. This year's event was presided by Professor LeeWei-Jei and featured a couple of eminent specialits from the USA who shared their experience with surgeons from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

 

 

 

At the first ADSS in 2010 the participants launched an Asian initiative to study the effects of metabolic surgery on diabetic patients. The participating centers have since enrolled and followed about 2,000 metabolic patients from six Asian countries and territories who underwent surgery, enabling them to compile a valuable database to be used for research on the subject.

 

Min-Sheng hosts 4th Cross-Straits Symposium on Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Min-Sheng General Hospital hosted the 4th Cross-Straits Symposium on Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery on November 24, 2014. The meeting was chaired by Professor Lee Wei-Jei and brought together leading specialists in the field of bariatric and metabolic surgery from Taiwan, Hong-Kong, and China, who discussed the latest techniques and shared their experience.

 

Although China only recently embraced bariatric surgery, it is now only second to India in Asia (ex-Middle East) for the number of procedures performed each year. After doubling every year, the number of surgeries performed in China now seems to be reaching a plateau at 5,000 procedures in 2014. As a comparison, although the population of Taiwan represents less than 2 percent of the population of China, just over 2,000 bariatric and metabolic surgeries will have been performed in Taiwan this year (around 500 at Min-Sheng’s Bariatric Center only).  

Min-Sheng's Bariatric Center shares experience at APMBSS 2014

Min-sheng General Hospital sent a large delegation to APMBSS 2014 conference. The Asia-Pacific Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society (APMBSS) regroups the societies from countries in the region which meet every two years to discuss the latest advancements in the care of metabolic and bariatric patients. This year’s event was held in Krabi, Thailand, and also featured prominent specialists from North and South America.

 Min-Sheng’s delegation lead by Pr. Wei-Jei Lee, the Director of the Bariatric Center, was comprised of surgeons, case managers and other members of the Bariatric center who presented their work on various aspects of bariatric and metabolic care.

 

 As a leading center for Metabolic and Bariatric surgery in the Asia, the Bariatric Center at Min-Sheng General Hospital greatly contributes to the advancement of the specialty in the region by training surgeons enrolled in its International Fellowship Program and publishing the results of studies conducted at the Center in international Peer Reviewed Journals.

 

Min-Sheng's Case Manager becomes first Certified Bariatric Nurse outside North America

Miss Chou Ju-Jun, the program coordinator and a case manager at Min-Sheng's Bariatric Center, has become the first nurse outside of North America to receive the Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN) credentials. The CBN certification is bestowed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) to nurses specializing in the care of bariatric patients after an examination and assessment of their professional competence. This requires candidates to demonstrate competence in all technical aspects of Bariatric Nursing in accord with the standards established by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for effective and safe patient care.

Miss Chou joined Min-Sheng General Hospital in 2003 as a Nurse Practioner and became a case manager for the Bariatric Center in 2008. While working for Min-Sheng’s Bariatric Center, one of Asia’s leading centers for bariatric and metabolic surgery, Miss Chou has had the opportunity to build on the experience of caring for thousands of patients undergoing the full range of bariatric procedures.

Min-Sheng General Hospital Presents Important Study Findings at SAGES 2014 Meeting

Dr. Abdullah M. Almulaifi travelled to the 2014 Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery (SAGES) Meeting in Salt Lake City, USA, to present the results of an important study conducted at Min-Sheng’s Bariatric Center.
 

 

Min-Sheng’s Bariatric Center, lead by Pr. Lee Wei-Jei, has conducted a comparative study of more than 2,000 patients who had undergone by-pass surgery at the Center, and Dr. Almulaifi presented results related to Intractable Marginal Ulcers that sometimes appear after gastric bypass surgery in mordibly obese patients, and can be a significant complication. The scientific committee of the SAGES Meeting were impressed by the quality of the study, and particularly interested in the results regarding “smoking” as a predictor of the development of ulcers. This study is indeed the first one that took into account the number of cigarettes smoked daily by patients, and the findings may lead to changes in the guidelines for post-surgical treatment.

 

Dr. Abdullah M. Almulaifi, from Kuwait, is currently a fellow in Min-Sheng’s Minimally Invasive Bariatric and Colorectal Surgery Fellowship Program. This program, which has clinical and academic components, offers the opportunity for international surgeons with experience in minimally invasive bariatric surgery to greatly improve their skills and assist in hundreds of cases of surgeries covering the entire spectrum of bariatric surgery.

Min-Sheng attends health fair in Beijing

Min-Sheng General hospital was one of four Taiwanese hospitals that recently attended a health fair in Beijing, where they promoted their core specialties and other services of interest to the Chinese public. The initiative was supported by TAITRA, the government body in charge of developing external trade, with the aim to attract more Chinese patients to Taiwan's top hospitals. The quality of care of Taiwanese hospitals is well known in China and the prices charged here are also very competitive. Moreover, since language and culture are quite similar, Taiwan makes for a more convenient alternative to other countries in the region.

 

 

Many Chinese tour operators already include some kind of medical activity - usually a health screening or a light cosmetic procedure - in their packages in order to qualify for a medical tourism visa, however, since independent Chinese travelers are now also allowed to travel to Taiwan, some are looking for other procedures. Min-Sheng General Hospital has this year welcomed several patients from the Chinese mainland who traveled to Taiwan to undergo weight loss and metabolic surgery.

Min-Sheng General Hospital launches new English website

Min-Sheng General Hospital has launched a new English website (www.missioncare.com.tw) aimed at providing foreign expats in Taiwan and medical tourists the tools and information they need to facilitate their access to health care in Taiwan.

Building on years of experience dealing with foreign patients, Min-Sheng General Hospital’s International Healthcare Center has designed a new English website that wishes to be informative and practical for local foreign patients visiting the hospital, as well as a marketing tool to promote Mi-Sheng’s specialties to overseas patients. Local English speaking patients will find all the practical information they need regarding the hospital and the services it offers, and the on-line registration procedure to make a doctor appointment has been simplified.

Since the majority of patients traveling to Min-Sheng General Hospital from abroad do so either for weight loss, orthopedic, or cosmetic surgery, or for a health screening, the website has been constructed to reflect this trend. Each of these specialties has its dedicated “mini-site” that introduces the services proposed as well as their delivery process. The mini site covering weight loss and metabolic surgery actually contains such a wealth of information that it could be spun off as a standalone website. The new English website also incorporates social media; there are links to the Min-Sheng International blog, to a brand new facebook page, and patients’ testimonials videos have been uploaded on YouTube.

Min-Sheng General Hospital has long been at the forefront of international healthcare in Taiwan, and the new website reiterates the hospital’s commitment to providing outstanding service to foreign patients.

Min-Sheng's Bariatric Center welcomes Singapore nurses for clinical attachment

Min-sheng General Hospital has long been a leader for bariatric surgery in Asia. The Bariatic Center at Min-Sheng performs more than 450 bariatric surgeries a year, more than any other hospital in the region. One fourth of the Center’s patients are now people suffering from diabetes Type II with a profile that makes them candidates for potential diabetes remission after bariatric surgery. As a consequence, the Center is now referred to as the Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery.

 Hospitals across the region are stepping up efforts to offer this kind of service, and doctors from Korea, Japan, Hong-Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam regularly attend training at Min-Sheng’s Bariatric Center under Professor Lee Wei-Jei, an authority on the subject for over ten years. Foreign hospitals are also keen to upgrade their nurses’ skills in the treatment of bariatric patients; Min-Sheng recently welcomed two nurses from Singapore General Hospital for a month-long clinical attachment to observe the hospital’s bariatric care program. Miss Foo focused her training on the screening process and case management of bariatric patients, whereas Miss Toh was more involved in the surgical nursing aspect of the program. They were both thrilled by the learning opportunities offered by the high volume of bariatric patients treated at Min-Sheng General Hospital.

Potential benefits of gastric plication in the treatment of obesity discussed at 3rd ADSS

Doctors who recently gathered at Min-Sheng General Hospital for the third Asian Diabetes Surgery Summit (ADSS) discussed the potential benefits and limitations of gastric plication in the treatment of obesity. Although surgical procedures like the gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy have shown excellent results in the long term treatment of obesity, some patients are reluctant to undergo such a procedure which they see as too radical and irreversible (in the case of the gastrectomy).

Until recently, the only option for these patients was the gastric banding, a restrictive procedure that has been used for many years now. Unfortunately, studies have shown that although effective in reducing weight in the couple of years after the band was applied, the gastric banding success rates at five years and beyond dip dramatically. The procedure is also less suitable for Asian patients due to local diets that are rich in soft and semi-liquid foods which pass easily through the restrictive ring.

A gastric plication decreases the size of the stomach without removing sections of the stomach or implanting a restricting device. It decreases the volume of the stomach by folding the stomach inwardly, and suturing the folds, reducing the stomach volume and therefore limiting food intake. It is a relatively new procedure for people who want to reduce their weight, but are uncomfortable with the idea of having a part of their stomach removed or an assisting device implanted. The results following a gastric plication are encouraging; however the long term outcome has yet to be established. Yet, studies undertaken in Taiwan and elsewhere show that the procedure’s long term efficiency is improved when it is coupled with a gastric banding. In other words, the long term outcome is better for a combination of gastric plication and gastric banding than for these procedures when performed individually.

The bariatric center at Min-Sheng General Hospital has successfully performed nearly 4000 bariatric surgeries, and offers both the gastric plication, and a combination of plication and banding as an option for its patients.

Min-Sheng General Hospital to receive Chinese medical tourists

Min-Sheng General Hospital has been granted permission by the Taiwan Department of Health to receive patients from the Chinese mainland for treatment, and to support their application for a medical visa. Although the scheme is theoretically designed for Chinese tourists travelling in groups and those travelling individually, it is likely that most will do so as part of a package tour. In such case, the medical component of the package will only be an add-on, and not the main purpose of the trip to Taiwan.

Personalized service, cutting edge technology, and competitive pricing are a draw for Chinese medical tourists, who will at first mostly seek health screenings, light cosmetic surgery, and anti-aging treatments. However, Min-Sheng hopes to build on its reputation, and experience treating international patients from Europe and North America to attract Chinese patients looking for spine surgery and bariatric surgery.

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 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.