13/09/2026
【NTUH Marks Eight Years of the Patient-centered Seamless Transition and Referral System (P-STARs) with New Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Healthcare Services
Public Healthcare Consultation Hotline to Launch October 1; NTUH Promotes Five Tips for Smart Healthcare-Seeking】
https://www.ntuh.gov.tw/ntuh/News.action?l=en_US&q_type=-1&q_itemCode=19313
National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) held the eighth anniversary annual conference of the Patient-centered Seamless Transition and Referral System (P-STARs) today, bringing together healthcare professionals from different levels and institutions to strengthen consensus on Taiwan’s tiered healthcare system. Following a comprehensive review involving 256 physician experts from different levels of care and an in-person consensus meeting attended by 80 experts, NTUH released the Healthy Taiwan “Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Healthcare Services.” The guidelines provide healthcare-seeking recommendations for 1,067 common symptoms, offering the public a practical reference for choosing the appropriate level and channel of care.
According to the guidelines, 13.8% of the 1,067 symptoms can be managed through self-care and observation, while 31.9% are recommended to be managed first at community primary care clinics. A further 7.9% are recommended for hospital outpatient care, and 46.5% require emergency medical attention. Overall, 45.7% of the symptoms can initially be managed through self-care, observation, or community-based primary care, highlighting the importance of choosing the appropriate level of care based on symptoms and urgency.
👉Cross-Level Expert Review Establishes Healthcare-Seeking Recommendations for 1,067 Symptoms
Over the past eight years, the P-STARs has established a cross-level and cross-institutional network for two-way referrals and seamless transitions of care. Through collaboration among medical centers, regional and district hospitals, and community healthcare providers, the program has sought to help patients receive appropriate care at the right place and time while strengthening coordination across different levels of the healthcare system.
To develop the new Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Healthcare Services, NTUH invited physician experts from different levels and specialties to participate in an online group review. A total of 256 physicians reviewed the recommendations, followed by an in-person consensus meeting involving 80 experts. The process incorporated clinical expertise from different levels of care to establish practical recommendations for 1,067 common symptoms.
The guidelines are designed to help members of the public better understand when self-care or observation may be appropriate, when they should seek care at a community primary care clinic, when hospital outpatient services may be needed, and when symptoms warrant immediate emergency medical attention.
👉Public Healthcare Consultation Hotline to Launch October 1
To further assist the public in choosing the appropriate level of care, NTUH will launch the Public Healthcare Consultation Hotline, (02) 2356-2891, on October 1. The number is also known as “Ai-Bang Healthcare-Seeking” (愛幫就醫). The hotline will operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The service will be staffed by trained consultation nurses and healthcare professionals, who will assess callers’ symptoms and urgency and provide guidance on the appropriate course of action, including self-care and observation, community primary care, hospital outpatient services, or emergency care.
When necessary, healthcare professionals will also identify potential red-flag symptoms and assist callers in seeking urgent medical attention. The service follows the principle of “Consult First, Seek Care Next, Refer When Needed,” helping the public make more informed healthcare decisions before visiting a medical facility.
👉NTUH Promotes Five Tips for Smart Healthcare-Seeking
NTUH also introduced “Five Tips for Smart Healthcare-Seeking” to encourage the public to develop appropriate healthcare-seeking habits:
1. Everyone Should Have a Family Physician
Establish a long-term relationship with a trusted family physician who can provide ongoing and comprehensive healthcare.
2. Consult First When Symptoms Arise
If you are unsure whether you need medical attention or which department to visit, seek professional advice through the Public Healthcare Consultation Hotline.
3. Turn to Primary Care for Minor Illnesses
Common minor illnesses and chronic disease management can often be handled at nearby community primary care clinics.
4. Recognize Red Flags in Emergencies
Severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, altered consciousness, sudden weakness of a limb, or sudden speech abnormalities may indicate an emergency and require immediate medical attention.
5. Follow Referral Recommendations
Primary care physicians can assess patients’ conditions and, when necessary, refer them through a two-way referral system to the appropriate healthcare institution for further evaluation and treatment.
👉Annual Conference Proposes Four Policy Recommendations to Strengthen Taiwan’s Tiered Healthcare System
Based on the experience of the P-STARs over the past eight years, the annual conference also put forward four policy recommendations to further strengthen Taiwan’s tiered healthcare system:
1. Establish national standards and guidelines for appropriate use of healthcare services.
2. Pilot symptom-based healthcare consultation and triage hotlines, with systematic evaluation of service utilization, triage outcomes, and user satisfaction.
3. Improve National Health Insurance reimbursement and incentives for tiered healthcare, including strengthening incentives for referrals, reviewing the copayment mechanism, and providing appropriate reimbursement for healthcare consultation and transition management.
4. Establish a permanent mechanism for maintaining and updating the guidelines, with regular revisions based on clinical evidence, disease patterns, and changes in the healthcare environment.
The P-STARs has spent the past eight years building a cross-level, cross-institutional system for two-way referrals and seamless transitions of care. Through continued collaboration among healthcare professionals and institutions, the program aims to help the public make appropriate healthcare choices, promote effective use of medical resources, and support the sustainable development of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system.
With the launch of the Public Healthcare Consultation Hotline on October 1, NTUH hopes to further promote the concept of “Consult First, Seek Care Next, Refer When Needed,” helping the public access the right care at the right place and time and contributing to the goal of a Healthy Taiwan.
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