Dr. Red Nose x Sister Chiling: Crossing Time and Space Together to Support Healthcare Workers

The novel coronavirus continues to seriously affect people’s daily lives. As the pandemic intensified in 2021, the healthcare system became overwhelmed, and several hospitals experienced internal outbreaks. Although these were effectively controlled, healthcare workers still risked infection as they stood on the front lines, remained committed to their posts, and saved every patient, enduring tremendous physical, mental, and emotional stress.

In addition to strictly following epidemic prevention regulations and reducing the burden on all healthcare personnel, the Red Nose Care Clown Association team invited the Taipei City Chiling Charity Foundation, which is likewise concerned about the well-being of healthcare workers, to jointly produce the video “Serving Healthcare Workers.” During the pandemic, Sister Chiling saw the hardships and pressure faced by healthcare workers and wanted to make an effort to relieve their physical and emotional stress. Recognizing Dr. Red Nose’ healing service and work, she hoped to join them in healing healthcare workers through her sincere, warm voice and Dr. Red Nose’ specially customized performances, cheering them on and expressing our overflowing gratitude. The Chiling Charity Foundation will continue working together with Dr. Red Nose to pay attention to and support healthcare workers!

Dr. Red Nose went a step further by providing free “video performances” for them, overcoming the limitations of time and the barriers of space. They delivered laughter, positivity, joy, warmth, and encouragement to healthcare workers throughout Taiwan, allowing them to reduce stress and anxiety while being filled with joy.

Our association is dedicated to creating a friendly healthcare environment. When the pressure and tension experienced by healthcare personnel can be temporarily released, the overall medical atmosphere and quality can enter a positive cycle, ultimately benefiting patients’ treatment and recovery. Through the presence of Dr. Red Nose, we bring joy and warmth into medical and caregiving environments, improve doctor-patient relationships, and promote the spirit of friendly healthcare and holistic care, spreading the power of humor to every corner. Since March 2020, our association has expanded its video performance services beyond hospitals where we originally performed on-site to include other non-resident hospitals in central and southern Taiwan. After the pandemic broke out this year, as increasingly strict access controls were implemented, pressure within hospitals gradually increased. In response to children’s and families’ longing for Dr. Red Nose and the hardships faced by healthcare teams, we began planning ahead and increasing our video capacity, providing at least nine video performances each week. Our services expanded from children and parents to healthcare personnel and related helping professionals, comforting every exhausted heart in the hospital, easing the pressure on families and healthcare workers, and spreading smiles across everyone’s face.

“Being a Dr. Red Nose is a profession. One must possess strong psychological qualities and performance abilities, and be able to provide the best response at any time when faced with ever-changing situations.” This is what association chairperson Ma Chao-Chi said.

Dr. Red Nose are all highly trained performers! They must undergo intensive clown performance and improvisation training. Only then can they provide improvised performances tailored to the mood, circumstances, and emotional responses of each healthcare worker receiving the service. Dr. Red Nose can therefore overcome the limitations of distance, making their interactions more distinctive. For example, they use the camera to vary the distance of the performance and create magical effects of entering and exiting the frame, while performances incorporating dazzling props make up for the regret of being unable to interact face-to-face. The regular weekly companionship also adds a layer of intimacy to the performances. The distinctive features of Dr. Red Nose’ video performances are not only that they overcome the limitations of time and space to warm people’s hearts, but also that they provide one-of-a-kind performances tailored to each individual. Through fun, real-time interactions, they create laughter and joy, helping viewers relax both body and mind and continue forward with positive energy.

Dr. Red Nose’ video services are available free of charge not only to hospitalized children and their caregivers, but also to healthcare workers and helping professionals throughout the country. If you have friends or relatives who need this service, please feel free to share this information with them. Dr. Red Nose will continue to use our most heartfelt professional expertise to support healthcare workers through this difficult journey, keeping laughter alive in hospital wards. For application details, please visit the Red Nose Care Clown Association’s Facebook page, or call (02)2891-2150 from Monday to Friday, 10:00-17:00 on business days. A staff member will be available to assist you.

• “Serving Healthcare Workers” video link: https://youtu.be/3fOEgle_Sas
• Association Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DrRedNose
• Association website: https://www.drn.org.tw/

Media contact: Kao Chia-Hui 0963-096990 bm@drn.org.tw