Country’s first “home healthcare” clinic opens in Dulan

Dulan Clinic marks a great step forward for Donghe Township and a giant leap forward in the development of home healthcare treatment in Taiwan. Officially opened just recently, the clinic is the first in Taiwan to put “home healthcare” at the forefront of its practice.

In an attempt to emphasize the close relationship between healthcare and the community, the opening ceremony of Dulan Clinic was held as a “clinic ceremony”. After a series of blessings and speeches, tribal elders led tribal warriors to open Dulan Clinic and bless all those present. With an offering of millet wine, the tribal elders led everyone in a prayer to God and their ancestral spirits, asking for the tribespeople, village, clinic, and physicians to be blessed and kept safe.

Dulan has a so-called super-aged society, with over 20% of its population over 65 years of age. Dulan Clinic hopes that through working diligently in the community, it can transform Donghe into a model of “home healthcare” in Taiwan. In order to help turn this home healthcare dream into a reality, Taiwan Society of Home Healthcare (台灣在宅醫療學會) has recently been established with the goal of connecting home healthcare workers from around Taiwan.

以下為中文對照

都蘭診所的一小步、卻是台灣在宅醫療發展的一大步。全台第一家以「在宅醫療」為主軸的都蘭診所正式在台東都蘭開幕。

為強調在宅醫療與社區緊密結合的特色，都蘭診所開幕式以「診所祭」方式進行，在一連串的祝福與致詞之後，由部落耆老帶領部落的勇士一起為都蘭診所的開幕以及所有在場來賓祈福。耆老帶領大家默禱，奉上小米酒，祈求上蒼與祖靈，保佑族人、部落、診所以及醫師，一切平安順利。

都蘭所在的東河鄉，65歲以上人口超過20％，已經是所謂的超高齡社會。都蘭診所希望用心在地耕耘，將東河鄉打造成在宅醫療示範區。此外，台灣在宅醫療學會也已經成立，目標之一就是讓大家認識台灣各地從事居家醫療的醫護人員。

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