Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital was initially established on October 29, 1990, as the Kaohsiung Branch of Taipei Veterans General Hospital. At that time, Orthopedics was a division under the Department of Surgery. In February 1998, it was restructured into an independent department, and in October 2003, it was expanded into the Department of Orthopedics, relocating from the Medical Building to its current location on the fifth floor of the Emergency Building.
Over the past 30 years, from its origins as a division within the Department of Surgery to the establishment of an independent Orthopedics Department, the hospital has been led by seven former superintendents—Dr. Cheng Te-Ling, Dr. Yang Chien-Fang, Dr. Cheng Kuo-Chi, Dr. Huang Jung-Ching, Dr. Mo Ching-Tang, Dr. Liu Chun-Peng, and Dr. Lin Yao-Hsiang—up to the current superintendent, Dr. Chen Chin-Shun. During this time, the department was successively led by Dr. Huang Chih-Hsien (1990-2010), Dr. Jen Chen-Hui (2011-2017), and Dr. Chang Wei-Ning (2018-2023). As of January 1, 2024, Professor Hsu Chien-Jen has taken over as the department director, continuing to lead the department’s growth.
Currently, the department has 18 full-time attending physicians and one part-time attending physicians from the Emergency Department. Under the regulations set by the Taiwanese Orthopedic Association and the Ministry of Health and Welfare for orthopedic specialist training programs, the department continues to expand its capabilities, focusing on clinical service, education, and research.
(I) Clinical Services
In 2005, the Gait Analysis Laboratory was established, the first of its kind among all medical centers in Taiwan, dedicated to the treatment of children with cerebral palsy.
In 2010, the hospital’s Bone Bank was certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, making it the first certified medical center in Taiwan.
The department has received multiple SNQ (Symbol of National Quality) certifications, including:
2015: Gait Analysis Laboratory
2019: Sports Medicine Division
2020: Fracture and Trauma Division
2020: Joint Reconstruction Center (certified by the Joint Commission of Taiwan)
The outpatient department handles an average of 4,400 consultations per month, with a steady increase in numbers. The department also performs approximately 400 surgeries per month.
(II) Medical Education
The department follows the Orthopedic Specialist Training Program outlined by the Taiwanese Orthopedic Association and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It has designed a structured residency training curriculum, which includes:
Daily Morning Conferences covering:
Clinical case studies
Journal club discussions
Specialized lectures by attending physicians (covering spinal surgery, pediatric orthopedics, sports medicine, joint reconstruction, trauma and fracture surgery, hand surgery, foot and ankle surgery, and musculoskeletal oncology)
Complications and mortality case reviews
Multidisciplinary seminars
Research presentation meetings
Bedside and Clinical Teaching, providing hands-on guidance to residents and interns in wards and clinics. The department has also compiled a complete set of orthopedic core curriculum electronic teaching materials.
Surgical Demonstrations, where surgical techniques are taught in real time during operations.
Milestone-Based Training, incorporating the Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) framework, ensuring a step-by-step learning process for residents, integrating clinical training with orthopedic biomechanics education.
The curriculum also includes ultrasound diagnostics and therapy, physical therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine in orthopedics, fostering a well-rounded orthopedic specialist training program.
(III) Research and Academic Achievements
The department has set clear publication goals in alignment with the Orthopedic Specialist Training Program:
Attending Physicians' Publication Rate: Target of 75% within five years. From 2019 to 2023, the publication rate among attending physicians exceeded 80%.
Residents' Research Publications: At least 66% of residents must publish research before taking the orthopedic specialist exam. In 2024, three residents are scheduled to take the exam, with two having already published complete SCI-indexed journal articles.
Research Focus Areas:
Regenerative Medicine, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), amniotic powder, and related products.
Bone and Cartilage Cell Cultivation and cell therapy.
Clinical Big Data Analysis for orthopedic research.
Fracture Treatment and Implant Development.
Gait Analysis and Surgical Treatment for Cerebral Palsy.
Minimally Invasive Surgery Techniques.
With its commitment to excellence in clinical service, education, and research, the Department of Orthopedics at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital continues to advance orthopedic medicine, providing high-quality patient care and contributing to the development of orthopedic science.