2004/07/30
BY MARK K. CHAN
TAICHUNG, JEN-AI HOSPITAL - DALI
¡@¡@The inpatient E-card service is
introduced for the first time in Taiwan by Jen-Ai Hospital
in Dali City, Taichung County, which will allow friends
and families of patients who are staying in the hospital,
to express their concern and care through E-card that
can be sent from the hospital's website (http://www.jah.org.tw/english.asp).
¡@¡@The inpatient E-card services are fairly common in hospitals
throughout the U.S., Japan, and Thailand. Jen-Ai Hospital
in Dali wanted to provide this service to its patients,
so that other hospitals in Taiwan can also do the same,
in the near future. Currently, there are nine different
images that have been designed, including Jen-Ai Hospital
architecture, flowers, etc. Senders are able to select
the E-card of their choice, fill in basic information
about themselves, write a personal message, along with
the patient's name and room number. Once the E-card is
sent out, the nurse station will receive it immediately
and E-cards are printed using a color printer, on a daily
basis. The nurses then deliver the personal E-cards to
the patients individually.
¡@¡@This service is only available for patients that are
hospitalized. In the past, the international patients
of Jen-Ai Hospital Baby Web and International Patient
Center have received the Jen-Ai Hospital E-cards from
their loved ones. Serene Judith Christopher, an Indian
lady who has lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years, was
recently hospitalized for undergoing infertility treatment
at Jen-Ai Hospital in Dali. Overjoyed with the news that
she was pregnant, her mother sent her an E-card through
the Jen-Ai Hospital English Website. The message that
her mother wrote, brought a huge smile to Serene's face.
Even the nurses were touched by the joy that was sent
to Serene.
¡@¡@Angela Peterson, a Canadian lady who has only been in
Taiwan for less than 6 months, was accompanied by her
American husband and her four children, when she underwent
an operation at Jen-Ai Hospital in Dali. When her family
in Canada heard about her hospitalization, they were nervous
and concerned; so as soon as they found out about the
Jen-Ai Hospital E-card service, they sent their greetings
and blessings, right away. When the nurses delivered the
E-cards to her, Angela held the nurse's hands and expressed
her gratitude repeatedly.
¡@¡@And interestingly, patients are not the only ones enjoying
this service. Juliessa Santiago, a caretaker from Philippines,
has been benefiting from this service, as well. Taking
care of an elderly woman who is mostly bedridden may have
added to the stress and anxiety that she has felt for
the past 5 years, living in a foreign land. A friendly
E-card from her mother, her 2 sisters and nieces, living
in Manila has definitely helped her adjust to the life
away from home.
¡@¡@Inpatients no longer feel alone in Jen-Ai Hospital in
Dali because of this new E-card service. Friends and family
members that are unable to come to the hospital, in person
could express their care and greetings via the Jen-Ai
Hospital E-cards. This patient-centered service has brought
much joy to all the hospitalized patients and the caretakers
that care for them.
¡@¡@In the future, Jen-Ai Hospital in Dali plans to design
a variety of greeting cards to provide more choices to
the public; and on special holidays, send E-cards to all
the inpatients staying at the hospital. In addition, Jen-Ai
Hospital in Dali will be exploring the possibility of
forming future collaborations with flower shops, fruit
stores, and other companies to bring on-line ordering
services so that the friends and families have a choice
of ordering flowers, fruits, and other goods for their
loved ones who are hospitalized inside the hospital. Jen-Ai
Hospital E-card Webpage is available at: http://www.jah.org.tw/english/ecard.asp
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