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 STM Administrator wins Medical Contribution Award
 "Where there is need, that's where we will be." That is the the motto St. Martin De Porres Hospital administrator Sister Lucy Chen OLC (pictured, second from the left) has spent a lifetime pursuing. A Catholic religious sister for 44 years, it has been her mission of love to help others, to work diligently to promote medical service in Chiayi for countless patients and disadvantaged families. "To need to rely on the efforts of everyone, rather than just one person, that is a good thing." She said. The glory of her recent Medical Contribution Award shines brighter because it was accomplished together.
Sister Lucy grew up in a Catholic family, and in her early teens was inspired by a favorite poem of Mother Teresa's, "Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway." At the age of 16, she decided to devote her life to serving God, and joined the Sisters of Our Lady of China after graduating from high school.
Upon completion of college, Sister Lucy was assigned to Chung Jen Nursing School as a teacher and dean of students. Her responsibilities included teaching English and nursing ethics. Later, she successfully restructured the nursing program, so students interested in nursing can have the opportunity to attain their goal and develop the skills to become professional medical care providers.
During this period at Chung Jen Nursing School, Sister Lucy Chen saw a serious shortage of medical resources in the Alishan mountain aboriginal community. Once, when she took students up the mountain to help residents with health education and free screenings, she overheard the mayor talking with a news reporter, happily saying: "Today, it's okay to be sick, because the doctor is here." Although this warmed her heart, it also made her deeply sad.
Sister Lucy saw how seeking medical attention was convenient for Chiayi City residents, but a rare luxury for aborigine communities. A clinic or hospital are only a short walk away in the city, but mountain residents suffered from inadequate medical care because a physician was often not available when they get sick. So, later, as Administrator of St. Marin De Porres Hospital, she established the Holy Light Clinic in Fanlu Township, and the Alishan Medical Clinic, where a doctor and nurse are stationed 24-hours, year round.
In 1981, Sister Lucy traveled to the United States to pursue a Master's degree in medical administration at DePaul University. In 1986, she came home and became Administrator of St. Martin De Porres Hospital. Upon taking office, she found most of the medical equipment were 20 years old and in need of repairs, but patient load very high, and the place was overcrowded. Determined to improve the situation but faced with a lack of funds, Sister Lucy gritted her teeth and turned to banks for loans, something a nun had never done before.
When asked how she go up the nerve to borrow money, Sister Lucy replied with a smile, "just a surge of courage!" Gradually, she renovated the hospital environment and replaced the worn equipment. Another great challenge was finding competent, well-trained medical specialists. It was like waging war against the retired military doctors that staffed the hospital at the time, "but when I think of the results, that patient got better medical care, then it was all worth it."
St. Martin De Porres Hospital was opened through Sister May Paul Watts' hard work, and under Sister Lucy's watch has developed into a comprehensive medical network. In recent years, the hospital has embraced the "holistic care" approach, along with other innovative firsts to Chiayi: computerized medical records, ISO management model, "gapless" integrated health services, and long-term care.
Sister Lucy is especially concerned about home care for elderly people living alone and those in disadvantaged households, as most families can only help immobilized seniors with a sponge bath in bed. When she saw this unmet demand, she and a team went to Japan to learn about specialized services for the bedridden person. A direct result of this trip is Taiwan's first mobile bath home service.
Today, St. Martin De Porres Hospital has over 1,600 employees, and Sister Lucy is burdened with managing the everyday challenges that an organization of this size inevitably faces. She said: "This is, of course, very heavy pressure, the responsibility is also large," but despite the constant hardship and the nonstop pace, she always has a smile on her face, upholding the spirit of Christian love toward all those who need help. |
| Date¡G2015-11-24 |
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