Nursing Department, Psychiatric Ward, Head Nurse Chan Ya-Fen.
The Acute Psychiatric Ward of the Tri-Service General Hospital’s Nursing Department was established in 1973 at the Gongguan Shuiyuan district (now the Tingjhou Hospital District) and relocated to its current site in 2000. With 118 beds, it has the highest number of acute psychiatric beds among general hospitals in northern Taiwan. The ward primarily serves as a healthcare facility under the National Health Insurance system, focusing on short-term acute treatment aimed at rapidly alleviating symptoms and stabilizing patients’ conditions, thereby facilitating their transition to outpatient care or return to community living.
The majority of patients admitted to our acute psychiatric ward are diagnosed with depression. In addition to negative emotional symptoms, depressed patients often experience reduced appetite, sleep disturbances, bodily pain, social withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, necessitating professional treatment and care. Patients with mild depression can receive medication and outpatient follow-up, while those with moderate to severe conditions require inpatient treatment.
In our acute psychiatric ward, we implement the ANTI-Blue care model for patients with depression. Upon admission, nurses conduct a comprehensive nursing assessment, covering five key areas: emotional, cognitive, social, behavioral, and physiological. We also utilize the Stress EEG Assessment (SEA system) to evaluate patients through AI analysis of Electroencephalographys, assisting in diagnosing depression. Physicians collaborate with patients to discuss their treatment plans, employing various technological aids. For patients experiencing insomnia or adverse reactions to medication, treatments such as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Cranial Electrical Stimulation (CES) can be applied to enhance treatment effectiveness.
Since its introduction in 2020, rTMS has been performed on over 2,500 patients annually. CES, introduced in 2022, has also treated over 700 patients, yielding significant results. Nurses provide ongoing care, monitoring patients’ reactions to medication before and after administration, and promptly discussing and adjusting treatment plans with the medical team. Patients are granted access to fitness and recreational equipment within their wards during scheduled timeframes to promote physical activity.
Our hospital conducts weekly nursing group therapy sessions, covering a wide range of topics including disease management, infection prevention, health promotion, and art therapy. With over 70 sessions held annually, these programs have received an average satisfaction rating of 94.36%. Art therapy, in particular, boasts an average satisfaction rating of 95.4%, providing patients with an opportunity to explore their inner world, enhance self-awareness, and alleviate anxiety and stress.
In addition to the aforementioned care, our interdisciplinary team, comprising occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists, collaborates to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient during their hospitalization. This comprehensive approach ensures the delivery of high-quality acute mental health care. Once patients' conditions stabilize, our team works closely with families to develop discharge plans and facilitate smooth transitions to outpatient care, community rehabilitation programs, or residential care facilities as needed.