By Andie (Xi Yue)

On the morning of January 8, the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China released the 2022 performance evaluation results, in which national tertiary public hospitals nationwide participated. Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine ranked 9th among 2112 tertiary public hospitals, setting an all-time high. Moreover, it has been ranked A++ (top 1% in China) for five consecutive years.

In this evaluation, SRRSH gained full marks in operation efficiency and patient satisfaction. Its 19 indicators also scored full marks, such as complication rate in surgical patients and mortality rate in low-risk group cases, accounting for 73% of all the indicators.

Innovating the management model and improving overall medical quality

SRRSH has been committed to building a quality and safety management and higher quality medical service system for the people. The latest average length of stay in the hospital is 4.74 days, and the proportion of drug expense in patient expense is 23.7%, which continues to maintain the best level of domestic tertiary hospitals. It is the first hospital to introduce day surgery and the first one to pass DNV GL certification in China.

At present, 340 kinds of day surgery are available in SRRSH, covering 15 clinical departments, including 80 kinds of third-and fourth-grade surgery, all of which are included in the clinical pathway management. Day surgery accounts for 31.34% of elective surgery. Meanwhile, SRRSH was awarded the Quality Management Innovation Prize issued by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province in 2019, and elected in the first batch of “Sentinel Hospitals for Daytime Medical Quality Standardized Management” by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China in 2022.

Deepening disciplinary integration by scaling new heights in medicine, engineering, and information science

SRRSH has built a series of scientific research platforms, including 3 regional medical centers at the national level, the National Engineering Research Center for Minimally Invasive Device Innovation and Application, a National Clinical Education Training Demonstration Center, and 15 important research platforms at the provincial level. With 5 national clinical key specialties and 12 provincial medical key disciplines, it boasts an annual increase of 20% in the number of approved projects of the National Science Foundation of China. Meanwhile, 64 patents for invention in medicine, engineering and information science and 133 utility model patents.

Embracing minimally invasive medicine as a driving force for development

SRRSH took the lead in introducing minimally invasive techniques and robotic surgery in China. The number of minimally invasive surgery including laparoscopic and robotic surgery account for 80% of total operations in the hospital, with the quantity of single-port robotic surgery ranking top 3 in China. Meanwhile, it is home to multiple novel surgical methods such as completed laparoscopic ALPPS using round-the-liver ligation and Intestinal Diversion with a Degradable Stent.

Answering its calling as an advocator of A Global Community of Health for All

SRRSH has pressed on with the project to support hospitals in rural areas or remote islands, assisted more than 40 hospitals in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang provinces and built a national regional medical center in Alaer, Xinjiang. At the same time, the hospital has cooperated with multiple top overseas medical institutions, including Loma Linda University, Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins Hospital, becoming the first choice for foreign medical students and residents in terms of rotation and training. It has established the “Belt & Road” Minimally Invasive Medicine Academy to share the latest achievements in minimally invasive medicine.

Putting people first and striving to create a warm hospital environment

Since the establishment of SRRSH in 1994, it has pioneered a series of warm, caring medical services while upgrading its medical technology. For example, it coordinates the overall allotment of beds and has run the preparation center for hospitalization since its opening. Patients can complete a series of preoperative examinations in the center, including blood drawing, ECG, B-ultrasound, CT and pre-surgical anesthesia assessment, which shortens the waiting time and average length of stay.

In addition, SRRSH has built Smart Wards for its patients. These wards are equipped with temperature and humidity sensors, smart curtains and noise intelligent detecting and signaling devices with national patents.

Leading the digitization trend and exploring smart healthcare

To provide more access to healthcare for the general public, SRRSH took the lead in launching the "Future Hospital" development plan nationwide in 2014. It completed the mobile intelligent transformation of the whole process of medical treatment, launched the first Internet hospital in China based on a physical hospital, and innovated the first 5G + AR remote emergency system. SRRSH has continued to upgrade its service procedures and modes, making smart medical services available to patients prior to admission, in treatment and after discharge.

In the face of new opportunities and challenges, SRRSH will continue to scale new heights in medical technology, innovation capacity, and service quality.