Since its establishment, the trauma department has faced several major traumatic events, such as the rescue efforts during the Meilun traffic accident and the handling of numerous casualties from the Wei-guan building collapse. These events have tested our medical rescue network and the emergency response capabilities of major hospitals. Even trauma orthopedic surgeons have participated in rescue surgeries, including amputations at industrial accident sites. Each event has been a driving force for our progress and improvement. Each year, approximately 120 patients trigger the major trauma protocol, with numerous others experiencing varying degrees of trauma.
The Chi Mei Hospital trauma department comprises various surgical subspecialists and orthopedic physicians. In today's increasingly specialized medical landscape, this diversity is actually an advantage for our department. Major trauma patients at Chi Mei Hospital receive consistent care vertically, without the need to navigate different departments. Horizontally, they benefit from multi-disciplinary collaboration, ensuring timely, comprehensive, and appropriate treatment, thus avoiding unnecessary delays in treatment processes.
In 2018, our hospital established a Hybrid Operating Room (Hybrid OR). This facility allows for the treatment of critically injured patients with unstable conditions and bleeding. Anesthesiologists manage patient recovery and monitoring in the operating room, while radiologists focus on embolization and hemostasis treatment. If necessary, surgery can be performed simultaneously for optimal treatment outcomes.
After emergency trauma intervention, patients are transferred to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which has over 20 years of experience in critical care. The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is staffed with attending physicians dedicated to trauma care, working closely with trauma surgeons. Healthcare personnel involved in trauma care also undergo regular training to maintain high-quality care standards.