13 Taiwan hospitals named among world's 'best smart hospitals'

Taipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) Thirteen hospitals in Taiwan were named among the world's "best smart hospitals," with Taichung Veterans General Hospital ranked 85th, the highest among Taiwanese facilities, according to World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026 released Wednesday by Newsweek and Statista.

In a statement, Newsweek said the rankings were based on an international online survey of health care professionals and hospital managers, the Statista Smart Hospitals Maturity Survey, and Joint Commission International accreditation.

The survey recognized 350 leading medical institutions across 30 countries that are transforming health care through technology and innovation, evaluating them across 10 innovation areas, including artificial intelligence, telemedicine, robotics, patient safety technologies, and electronic functionalities, Newsweek said.

"Smart hospitals utilize advanced technology, including AI and automation, to improve patient care and streamline workflow," Newsweek said in the statement. "These modern treatment centers are predicted to become even more prevalent in the coming years."

It was the second time Taichung Veterans General Hospital ranked among the world's top 100 smart hospitals, improving from 99th place a year earlier.

The 13 Taiwanese hospitals in the rankings also include Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (116th), Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (120th), National Cheng Kung University Hospital (140th), Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (189th), and China Medical University Hospital (228th), the survey showed.

Other ranked hospitals from Taiwan are Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (262nd), Taipei Veterans General Hospital (272nd), National Taiwan University Hospital (299th), Tri-Service General Hospital-Neihu Main Facility (308th), Taipei Medical University Hospital (328th), Taipei Medical University Shuang-Ho Hospital (333rd), and Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital (339th), according to the survey.

The standout category recognized for Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital was "Patient Safety Technologies."

In response, Yu Chin-pang (游進邦), CEO of the Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals group, told reporters that Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has developed mature patient safety technologies through AI.

For example, prompted by the hospital's computer system, its medical team is now unlikely to forget to remove a double-J stent from patients returning for checkups after urological surgery, Yu said.

This year marked the first time all three hospitals under Taipei Medical University -- Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University Shuang-Ho Hospital, and Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital -- were named among the world's best smart hospitals.

Wu Mai-szu (吳麥斯), president of Taipei Medical University, said the university's efforts to drive digital transformation have paid off by connecting the databanks of the three hospitals and developing generative AI technologies to provide better patient services.

Wu added that the university has also built TAIP-X (TMU Artificial Intelligence Integrated Platform), an AI-powered system embedded across medical and nursing workflows, to improve hospital efficiency.