[Exploring the current state and progress of the skill-mixed model in Taiwan]

For many years assistant personnel have been an integral part of Taiwan's healthcare system, assisting nurses to take care of patients and helping out with various aspects of unit work. The skill-mixed model was discussed during the period of greatest SARS risk in Taiwan, when the tradition of family accompaniment in hospitals presented a real and present risk of nosocomial cross-infection. Since 2003, health care authorities have continued to attempt to implement an appropriate nursing model to improve overall delivery of healthcare. The nursing model implementation in Taiwan is similar to the skill-mixed model deployed in Western countries. Therefore, this article introduces the origin, definition, purpose and categories of the skill-mixed model, as well as related studies on the impact of the skill-mixed model on nursing and patient care outcomes. The article will further explore the current situation and difficulties of applying the skill-mixed model in Taiwan. This article can serve as a reference for health policy makers and be used to help improve Taiwan's healthcare delivery system.