LINK BETWEEN HOSPITAL-BASED DEPARTMENT OF WOUND HEALING AND COMMUNITY

HEALTH CARE CENTER: SHANGHAI EXPERIENCE

Shuliang Lu, MD, PhD

Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai Wound Repair

Research Center

China has experienced tremendous disease spectrum change during past decade. One example is

increasing chronic wound problems due to systemic diseases that increase the health care

burden. As a solution, a Wound Healing Department was set up at Ninth People’s Hospital

Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Shanghai in 2011. Patients with

chronic wounds can be offered with both diagnostic and therapeutic support based on new

technologies. We established a model termed “link between hospital-based department and

community health care center”. This strategy provided combined wound management offered by

the community health clinics with the participation of hospital based specialists. A 4G

telemedicine system and wound information management system have been used to ensure

quick communication and standardized wound care between general hospital and community

health care center. Recent audit indicates that the model was facilitates qualified wound care at

reduced costs both aims being consistent with health-care reforms in China. Some limitations

have also been identified and are being addressed.