Stepping Out of Hospitals, Connecting Cross-Domain Resources: Nanshan Medical Social Worker Award Honors Dedication of Medical Social Workers

As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, the demand for healthcare, long-term care, and social support is rapidly increasing. The role of medical social workers has evolved from traditional in-hospital case management to becoming a crucial hub connecting medical, community, and social resources. To honor the selfless dedication of frontline medical social workers, the 9th 'Nanshan Medical Social Worker Award' ceremony was held today (26th). Attendees included Administrative Yuan Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, President of the Medical Social Work Association Dr. Sung Hsien-yi, Chairman of the Nanshan Life Charity Foundation Yin Chung-yao, and representatives from medical institutions across Taiwan, all gathered to recognize the outstanding contributions of six winning hospital social work teams and six exceptional medical social workers.

Currently, approximately 2,000 medical social workers operate on the frontlines of Taiwan's healthcare system, moving throughout hospital departments. In addition to supporting patients and families facing illness and life challenges, they facilitate doctor-patient communication, address family and social issues, and connect individuals with welfare and care resources—making them an indispensable part of the healthcare system.

Since 2017, the Nanshan Life Charity Foundation has co-established the 'Nanshan Medical Social Worker Award' with the Medical Social Work Association. It is the only award in Taiwan dedicated exclusively to medical social workers. Each year, the award recognizes excellence through selection and advocacy, highlighting the professional value and service contributions of medical social workers and enhancing public awareness and recognition of their vital role.

Administrative Yuan Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung expressed gratitude for the long-standing professional contributions of medical social workers on the frontlines of healthcare. He emphasized the need to extend medical services into comprehensive social support systems in response to the demands of a super-aged society, and praised the 'Nanshan Medical Social Worker Award' for making visible the critical value of medical social workers in patient care, family support, and systemic innovation.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated that under the vision of a Healthy Taiwan, medical social workers are an essential force in holistic, lifelong, and community-wide care. The Ministry will continue to strengthen the professional system for social workers, improve salaries, ensure safe working conditions, and create a more supportive work environment so that social workers can serve stably and fully utilize their expertise.

Chairman Yin Chung-yao of the Nanshan Life Charity Foundation noted that medical social workers are not only key members of healthcare teams but also pivotal connectors linking interdisciplinary, interdepartmental, and public-private resources. From this year’s awardees’ service stories, it is evident that medical social workers are actively integrating medical, welfare, long-term care, and public-private resources—moving from individual case support to 'resource integration, service innovation, and rights advocacy.' They not only respond to patients’ and families’ medical and daily needs but also innovate service models and advocate for the rights of vulnerable populations, demonstrating the deepening and transformation of the medical social work profession.

Dr. Sung Hsien-yi, President of the Medical Social Work Association, pointed out that medical social workers often face profound human challenges such as illness, loss, family conflict, and social hardship, yet they consistently provide professional and compassionate support, helping patients and families find strength to overcome adversity. She also expressed gratitude to all applicants, review committee members, and partners who have long supported the development of medical social work, collectively raising awareness of its professional value.

This year’s six winning hospital social work teams in the group category all demonstrate a shared trend of evolving from 'in-hospital case services' to 'cross-domain integration.' Based on local healthcare needs, each team has connected medical, welfare, long-term care, and public-private resources in fields such as medical incident support, child protection, dementia care, healthcare for the homeless, accessible services for people with disabilities, and elderly care in remote areas—developing locally tailored, sustainable, and scalable service models.

The six awardees in the individual category serve in diverse fields including psychiatric care, early intervention, critical care and organ donation, end-of-life care for unattended individuals, integrated case management, services for survivors of sexual violence, and care for individuals with dementia and disabilities. They demonstrate a wide range of professional competencies, including precise assessment, crisis intervention, family support, resource coordination, rights advocacy, and system building. These awardees not only accompany patients and families through illness and life crises but also transform frontline experiences into innovative programs, standardized procedures, and sustainable service models—fully showcasing the irreplaceable professional value of medical social workers within the healthcare system.

Nanshan Life is committed to promoting sustainable health, leveraging the power of the Nanshan Life Charity Foundation to collaborate with over 210 hospital partners in eliminating health inequities among vulnerable populations and promoting social health and resilience. In response to emerging needs in healthcare, long-term care, and social support brought by the super-aged society, Nanshan Life will continue to partner with public and private sectors and healthcare providers to support medical social workers in exercising their cross-domain integration and professional advocacy capabilities. This ensures that more patients and families receive timely and appropriate support when facing illness, caregiving, and life challenges. The company also hopes to continue advancing toward the vision of a Healthy Taiwan through joint efforts between government and civil society.