National Taiwan University Hospital releases tiered medical care guidance

National Taiwan University Hospital has released a “tiered medical care guidance” system to address the issue of patients seeking emergency care for non-urgent conditions. Developed through consensus among 256 physicians, the guidelines categorize 1,067 common symptoms into four levels of care: emergency services, hospital outpatient clinics, community clinics, and self-care/observation.

According to the hospital, approximately 45.7% of the listed symptoms can be managed through self-care or by visiting a local community clinic rather than a major medical center. The guidelines also emphasize identifying “red flag signs”—such as sudden limb weakness, severe chest pain, or difficulty breathing—that require immediate emergency intervention.

To support this initiative, the hospital will launch a medical consultation hotline on October 1. Operated by trained medical professionals, the service aims to provide preliminary assessments to help patients choose the appropriate level of care. The hospital has also proposed four policy recommendations to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, including the establishment of national-level guidance and adjustments to health insurance reimbursement to encourage proper medical triage.