Having dedicated over 20 years of his life in the mountains providing long-term services to rural tribal communities, Doctor Kao has cared for inhabitants throughout Taiwan's higher altitudes. As an indigenous Taiwanese himself, he wished to return and set up a medical clinic and, in his own way, give back to the mountain spirits. Every time he offers free clinic services to residents in Taiwan's inner mountainous region, he tracks patients' ailments and focuses on their daily living, becoming a passionately benevolent physician recognized by all in Taoyuan's Fuxing District.
The Kao Yang-Wei Clinic was built in Zeren Village, Fuxing District, Taoyuan. One evening after 10 o'clock, a woman from Mt. Lala (or Lalashan) carried her child suffering from a high fever, rode a scooter for one hour until reaching the clinic. Her husband had been too drunk to help, and their health insurance debt was too high to dare enter a hospital. Throughout that night, Dr. Kao stabilized the young patient, staying by the child's side to ensure his care. That experience led Kao to revisit his original intention opening his rural clinic – to play a necessary role in a mountainous community severely lacking in resources. By establishing a plan which integrates medical support in mountainous communities and offshore islands, he submitted a project for medical resources in Fuxing's inhabitants, and after approval, it became the only independently run private clinic nestled among the mountains providing treatment. In 2017, Dr. Kao was awarded the Medical Contributions Award of the Legislative Yuan's Welfare Association, and his rural clinic became the only private medical entity authorized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
To better serve locals, Dr. Kao set up a 24-7 medical station in the center of the region, offering much-needed basic medical treatment such as emergency and referral services. He also follows a fixed schedule making the rounds in his medical vehicle, but since it is too old for repairs, the TSMC Charity Foundation donated a mobile clinic and medical equipment at the start of 2018 to help Dr. Kao travel safely throughout the winding mountain roads, continue contributing to locals' wellbeing, and return home safely every evening.
2018年高醫師已進行:
Dr. Kao's 2018 achievements:
● 後山巡迴醫療 3,265 次
3,265 medical tours
● 居家醫療人數 81人 (1,703 診次)
81 local patients treated (1,703 visitations)
● 眼底檢查7場(526 次)
7 ophthalmoscopy stations (526 checkups)
● 長照於2018年10月開始收案48人，至今共服務63人次
In Oct. 2018, 48 patients received long-term care; 63 total to this day.