— By Jane Rickards and Don Shapiro  Ming and Qing Dynasty soldiers described Taiwan as a place where “disease is rampant.” Yet before large numbers of Han people began arriving in the mid-17th century, the island’s indigenous peoples had managed to live generally healthy lives. Japanese researchers later documented how the Austronesian peoples used local medicinal plants to cure various…

Yuanlin Christian Hospital, a pioneering smart hospital, located in heavily rural Changhua County focuses on emergency and critical care in a part of Taiwan where emergency resources are scarce. The hospital opened in 2015, and with nearly 500 beds, 70 attending doctors, and more than 500 nurses, it can treat major traumas. It also offers emergency and inpatient treatment for children and various gynecological services.