[Laboratory medicine in Taiwan].
Laboratory medicine and hospital central laboratory system were adopted in Taiwan after World War II. In medical schools, laboratory medicine or clinical pathology teaching is allocated to junior students. Three years of clinical pathology or four years of anatomical pathology training is required for pathology resident. Recent trend indicates that both the hospitals and the young doctors favor the five years combined C.P. (two-years) and A.P. (three years) training program. At present, 75 clinical pathologists and 213 anatomical pathologists are qualified. Approximately 70% of them work in medical centers and medical schools. Consequently, the medium and small size hospitals suffer from serious shortage of pathologist. Studies during the part 50 years indicate substantial difference in the improvement of laboratory medicine and central laboratory before and after 1975. Significant improvement in the working space, facility, equipment, staff, quality control and productivity was evident after 1975. The three health care policies contributing to the overall improvement are: 1. hospital accreditation project, 2. medical care network plan, and 3. medical specialist system.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei Institute of Pathology, Taiwan.
J S
JS
Chen
D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008511:Medicine; D013038:Specialization; D013624:Taiwan