Small hospital provides big hope for neurological disorder patients
Print Edition
The city of Liuyang in central Hunan Province is well known for its delicious steamed dishes that have high fat and salt.
Although tasty, their popularity among locals has led to a high incidence of strokes.
While the large hospitals in big cities are well equipped to treat patients requiring intensive care, the community hospitals in small cities sometimes have to refer patients to the big hospitals as they lack the resources to treat complications. To better serve its community, a hospital along the Hunan-Jiangxi border is trying to fill the gap.
In 2011, Jili Hospital, which has made a name for itself in the region for treating strokes and other neurological disorders, added an intensive care unit for neurological patients.
鈥淚n our work, it鈥檚 a race against time,鈥 said Huang Pujia, a 36-year-old neurologist and neurosurgeon who has been with the hospital for 11 years. 鈥淲hen you are treating brain diseases, time is of the essence.鈥
To speed up treatment, when a patient鈥檚 family contacts the hospital, physicians collect basic information 鈥 such as age and symptoms 鈥 over the phone. Physicians then wait for the patient at the arrival hall so medical tests can start immediately. 鈥淭he waiting time from the patient鈥檚 arrival until he or she is placed in surgery is minimal,鈥 Huang said.
The 15-bed ICU has advanced treatment methods like intravenous thrombolysis 鈥 using medication to break down the clots formed in blood vessels, which could lead to strokes. The procedure can be done in less than 40 minutes. Huang said the fastest application was done in only 18 minutes.
A team of 10 doctors and 21 nurses work round the clock. Last year, the ICU treated more than 900 patients, an impressive number for a community hospital.
A large number of patients are farmers from the surrounding areas. Huang said the staff takes pains to ensure they are not confused or even scared by complicated medical jargon.
鈥淚 always take time to address their concerns and explain the illness using language they understand, for example, using farming metaphors,鈥 he said.
Liu Jialiang, a farmer from Jiangxi Province, had a sudden brain hemorrhage at midnight. The local hospital did not have the means to perform a craniotomy, surgery that would require opening the skull, and sent him to Jili Hospital.
鈥淒r Huang clearly explained the potential risks and benefits of the operation and we decided to have faith in him,鈥 Liu鈥檚 son Liu Shenggao said. 鈥淗e saved my father鈥檚 life.鈥
Today, the community hospital also boasts a national-level stroke center recognized by China鈥檚 state health authorities.
鈥淲e send our physicians to large hospitals for further education and training,鈥 said Chen Xiaoling, president of the hospital. 鈥淗uang Pujia has been sent twice to the most famous hospital in our province and taught our staff how to perform a craniotomy.鈥
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