History |
| Since June 20, 2018, KMSH has established Taiwan's first Multidisciplinary Swallowing Center as a new field of medical care, combining medical knowledge from a cross-boundary and cross-domain professional team cooperation model. The essence is to address the problems of patients' teeth and oral structures that make them unable to chew or swallow effectively when eating. Chewing and swallowing difficulties often affect patients' self-image, social skills, and overall quality of life, further causing individuals to feel lonely and helpless when facing illness. Combining the latest technological instruments, products, and evidence-based medicine, we create innovative services in invasive or non-invasive ways to cultivate successful cases. In addition to providing professional screening and consultation, we also design a warm and private examination environment. |
Equipment and Services |
| Multidisciplinary Swallowing Center is equipped with advanced clinical instruments, including: Flexible fiberoptic endoscopes, Swallowing therapy chairs imported from Japan, PATAKA Oral Function Measurement Devices, Oral moisture Measurement Devices, IOPI (Iowa Oral Performance Instrument) tongue/lip devices, Hand dynamometers, etc. These instruments enable comprehensive screening and evaluation of masticatory and swallowing functions, as well as clinical interventions for related challenges, including the removal of indwelling nasogastric (NG) tubes. Social Impact & Sustainability Furthermore, masticatory and swallowing courses have been successfully integrated into academic curricula. Our efforts have inspired the medical community, both domestically and internationally, to establish dedicated swallowing centers, including the Masticatory, Swallowing, and Oral Healthcare Center for the Elderly. Our educational and care services drive profound social impact, working to bridge health inequities and enhance the overall health and well-being of the public. The Social Return on Investment (SROI) of our initiatives reaches an impressive 8.5227, meaning that every single dollar invested generates over eight times its value in social benefit. Additionally, our development of swallowing and masticatory care food seamlessly integrates the concepts of health and sustainability, delivering a dual benefit to both individual well-being and environmental sustainability. |
Future Outlook |
| Since its establishment, Multidisciplinary Swallowing Center at Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital has consistently upheld its core vision: "May everyone enjoy delicious food until the very last moment of their lives." We are profoundly dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) across Taiwan. In response to the stark reality where up to 200,000 individuals nationwide rely on nasogastric (NG) tube feeding—and an alarming 94% NG tube utilization rate persists within long-term care facilities—our center has pioneered a nationwide multidisciplinary professional team to deliver holistic, integrated care. Driven by this mission, the Siaogang Hospital team steadfastly pursues its strategic roadmap. Honored with the "Social Inclusion Leadership Award" and the "National Innovation Refinement Award" in 2024, the center continues to deeply immerse itself in communities and institutional settings. Our ultimate aspiration is to completely transform the passive treatment paradigm of long-term tube feeding into a proactive, holistic, and integrated medical care model. Through our upcoming community outreach and international service initiatives, we aim to deliver faster, more convenient, and patient-friendly medical access for swallowing care. Furthermore, we strive to elevate public awareness regarding the vital importance of chewing and swallowing health among community residents, long-term care facilities, vulnerable populations, and global communities. This strategic advancement will drive three core benefits: Expanding Multidisciplinary Internal Collaboration We will further broaden our interdisciplinary care framework by integrating specialists from Pulmonology (Thoracic Medicine), Psychiatry, and Infectious Diseases to provide comprehensive, multi-angle clinical interventions. Pioneering a National Swallowing Care Model within Long-Term Care We will introduce Taiwan’s first institutional swallowing care model, establishing collaborative mentorship and training systems within long-term care facilities. Additionally, we will partner with external hospitals to co-execute and facilitate Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). Fostering Borderless International Exchange We will drive global knowledge sharing to ensure that exceptional swallowing care knows no borders, actively positioning our center as an international benchmark and peer-learning hospital. |