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Arranging treatment — including from overseas
Thyroid ablation is a day-case procedure, which makes it practical for patients travelling from elsewhere in Taiwan or from abroad. Here is how to organise it.
Assessing a thyroid nodule requires a full ultrasound examination and interpretation, so consultations take longer than a routine clinic visit. Your patience is appreciated.
In the system, select the Yongkang campus → Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism → Dr. Mei-Chen Yeh. The registration system is in Chinese; if you are outside Taiwan, email instead and an appointment will be arranged for you.
Clinic location
- Hospital
- Chi Mei Medical Center, Yongkang campus, Tainan
- Clinic
- 2nd Floor, First Medical Building
- Address
- No. 901, Zhonghua Rd., Yongkang Dist.
Tainan City 710, TAIWAN (R.O.C.) - Procedure check-in
- Examination Room reception, 2F, Second Medical Building
- Telephone
- +886-6-281-2811 ext. 57271 / 57272
- [email protected]
Getting here: take the Taiwan High Speed Rail to Tainan Station, then a taxi — about 20 minutes. Alternatively, take the conventional railway to Daqiao Station; the hospital is a 3-minute walk from the exit.
On-site parking is very limited and usually full after 09:00, so a taxi or public transport is recommended.
Clinic hours
- Monday09:00–12:00
- Wednesday09:00–12:00
Current hours and any cancellations follow the official announcements of the Chi Mei registration system.
If the clinic is fully booked: when no appointment slots are available and you would like to be assessed for thyroid ablation, email [email protected] and assistance will be provided with arranging your appointment.
How to arrange a consultation from abroad
- Email your records. Send a short summary of your situation together with any existing thyroid ultrasound, cytology and thyroid function reports to [email protected]. Images are helpful — the ultrasound report alone is often not enough.
- Preliminary opinion. Based on those records, you will receive an indication of whether ablation is likely to be appropriate, and what further investigation would be needed on arrival.
- Assessment appointment. On your first visit, a thyroid ultrasound is performed in clinic, together with thyroid function tests and, where required, fine-needle aspiration cytology.
- Treatment. If you are a suitable candidate, the ablation is scheduled — usually on a separate day, as a day case under local anaesthesia. Procedures are generally scheduled in the morning, starting as early as 08:30 with check-in 30 minutes beforehand, so plan to stay in Tainan the night before.
- Follow-up. A short review before departure where possible, then ultrasound follow-up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, which can be arranged with a physician closer to home if necessary.
Planning your stay
How long you need in Taiwan depends mostly on what investigations you already have. If your nodule has already been confirmed benign on two fine-needle aspirations at a reputable centre, and you bring the reports and images, the timeline can be short. If cytology must be performed here, the result takes several days.
Please plan realistically. Ablation is not appropriate for a nodule that has not been confirmed benign, and confirming that takes time. Sending your records before booking flights is strongly advised — it avoids travelling for a procedure that turns out not to be indicated.
Getting to the hospital
Chi Mei Medical Center's Yongkang campus is in Tainan, southern Taiwan. Tainan is served by Taiwan High Speed Rail — the journey from Taipei takes under two hours — and by Tainan Airport for regional flights; Kaohsiung International Airport is roughly 50 km away. From Tainan HSR station or Tainan railway station, the hospital is a short taxi ride.
On-site parking is very limited and usually full after 09:00, so taxis or public transport are recommended on the day.
What to bring
- Passport
- Thyroid ultrasound report and image files
- Fine-needle aspiration or biopsy cytology reports
- Thyroid function blood test results
- Any CT or MRI imaging
- A current list of medications, including anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents
Language
Consultations with international patients are conducted in English. Written patient instructions in English are available on the before and after care page, and correspondence before and after your visit can be handled by email.
También ofrecemos esta información en español —indicaciones, proceso, coste y cómo solicitar una cita— en las páginas en español.
Frequently asked questions
How do international patients arrange thyroid ablation in Taiwan?
Email [email protected] with a summary of your case and any existing ultrasound, cytology and thyroid function reports. An assessment appointment at the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan will then be arranged. If you are a suitable candidate, a treatment date can usually be scheduled shortly afterwards.
How long do I need to stay in Taiwan?
The procedure itself is a day case. A realistic plan is to allow several days: one visit for assessment (ultrasound, blood tests and, if needed, fine-needle aspiration), then the ablation itself on a subsequent day, and ideally a short review before departure. If cytology has to be performed in Taiwan, additional time is required for the result. Your exact schedule depends on what investigations you already have.
What if the clinic is fully booked?
If no appointment slots are available and you would like to be assessed for thyroid ablation, email [email protected] and assistance will be provided with arranging your appointment. Please outline your situation briefly and attach any existing thyroid ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration and thyroid function reports.
What records should I send before travelling?
Thyroid ultrasound report and images, fine-needle aspiration or biopsy cytology reports, thyroid function blood results, any CT or MRI images, a current medication list, and details of any anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. Sending these in advance allows a preliminary opinion on whether ablation is likely to be appropriate before you commit to travel.
Is the consultation available in English?
Yes. Dr. Yeh consults with international patients in English, and English patient instructions for thyroid ablation are available on this site. Correspondence before and after your visit can be conducted by email.
Last updated: 9 August 2026 | Reviewed by Dr. Mei-Chen Yeh, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chi Mei Medical Center