BACKGROUND

    In the past several decades, through the dedicate laborious works of numerous professors, associate professors, lecturers, and attending staffs, the Department of Gastroenterology has yielded outstanding achievements in patient services, education, as well as in researches in the field of the digestive medicine. Not only because of the prevalence of digestive diseases in Taiwan, but also due to the recent breakthrough in the field of hepatology, the widespread application of abdominal ultrasonography, and the rapid advance in the therapeutic endoscopy have further established the vital role of our Department of Gastroenterology.
 

PATIENT SERVICES

     In addition to outpatient clinics, inpatient services, special clinics and consultations, the doctors in the Department of Gastroenterology have also conducted numerous therapeutic interventions. In the aspects of endoscopy, there are the digestive endoscopy (including esophagogastroduodenoscopy, small intestinal scopy, colonfibroscopy, protoscopy/sigmoidoscopy, laparoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cholangioscopy, etc.), and the therapeutic endoscopy (such as esophageal dilatation, esophageal stent placement, papillotomy, and lithotripsy, polypectomy, endoscopic mucosa resection, etc.). Besides the use of endoscopic ultrasonography, abdominal sonography, and echo-guided biopsy, aspiration, and treatment have resulted in an even busier schedule for the doctors in the Department of Gastroenterology.

    Other than the services required in the hospital, the doctors have also well involved in the establishment and enforcement of National Technology Policies and National Medical Policies, such as the Executive Technology Reports, the Strategy for Prevention of Hepatitis, the Medical Engineering Projects, the Biomedical Technology Schemes, and the National Technology Research Projects.
 

TEACHING

     The subject of our teachings includes medical students, residents, and fellows training in the Department of Gastroenterology. A simple introduction is as follows:

1.  When the 5th and 6th year medical students clerk in the wards of the gastroenterology, they are required to perform history taking and physical examination as well as to attempt to conclude with a tentative diagnosis such that to practicing the basic skills relating to diseases and the logical thinking for differential diagnosis. They must also participate in the academic discussions and ward rounds.
    
2. When the 7th year medical students intern in the wards of the gastroenterology, they must be the primary doctor caring for three patients under the supervision of a senior staff in order to cultivate the independent skills of diagnosis and decision making. They have the opportunity to perform the special examinations under the supervision and guidance of a senior staff.
    
3. The 1st to 3rd year residents are rotated to the wards of the gastroenterology during their training in the internal medicine. They must answer to senior staffs and help in the teaching of clerks and interns. They are the primary physicians responsible for the patients in a team, such that they must be familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of the common digestive diseases. Everyday, the senior staffs would have ward rounds with all their team members, and give pointers during discussions, and at the same time fulfill the mutual learning experiences.
    
4. Gastroenterology training refers to the training of fellows at the 4th and 5th year residency. Training of each of the special techniques and consultations is according to the regulations of the Society of Gastroenterology, and at the same time related knowledges are accumulated. Fellows are encouraged to participate in researches, as well as give a presentation during the monthly or annual meetings. Finally, fellows must write their researches into a thesis, thus satisfying the goal of services and researches.