For every parent in Beijing, that late-night fever or sudden cough can feel like a moment of panic. You should always keep a stash of meds at home, but there are times when you just need to see a professional. The good news is you’re not alone. Our city has several reliable pediatric hospitals with 24/7 emergency services.

Save this essential list now, so if an unexpected health scare arises, you’ll know exactly where to go for immediate care, day or night.

Images: jingkids, Freepik

China has officially launched its first AI-powered pediatrician, marking a significant milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare. Late last month, CCTV’s China National Radio broke the news that on Feb 13, at Beijing Children’s Hospital’s consultation center, the AI pediatrician participated in a multidisciplinary consultation alongside 13 medical experts to address a complex patient case.

Developed by Beijing Children’s Hospital in collaboration with Baichuan Intelligence, this expert-level AI pediatrician is expected to revolutionize pediatric care, particularly in diagnosing and treating rare and difficult diseases. By leveraging vast medical datasets and AI-driven analysis, this technology will support doctors in making more precise and efficient medical decisions.

The AI pediatrician was tested with an 8-year-old patient who had been experiencing persistent involuntary muscle spasms for three weeks. Two weeks prior to the consultation, doctors detected a tumor at the base of his skull. The child had visited multiple hospitals, but diagnostic results were inconsistent.

Beijing Children’s Hospital conducted a multidisciplinary consultation on Feb 13, featuring the collaboration of human doctors and an AI pediatrician. The AI system was utilized in real-time to assist in diagnosing and treating complex pediatric cases.

This milestone event marked the launch of a new “dual-doctor” model, where AI technology collaborates with human experts in multidisciplinary medical consultations. Wang Xiaochuan, founder and CEO of Baichuan Intelligence – the project’s technical partner – emphasized that AI-driven pediatric care could greatly improve access to high-quality medical services across China.

Images: Pexels

Finding out you’re pregnant for the first time is like utter bliss, followed by an onset of panic when someone asks you anything remotely technical about pregnancy, and you realize that you actually don’t have it all figured out the way you thought you did. For me, that moment of realization came when a friend asked, “How far along are you?” and I mistakenly calculated from the date of conception rather than the date of my last menstrual cycle. Okay, so I’ve still got a lot to figure out. But, there are tons of expat mommy groups (and not to mention Google) that have been offering great advice when it comes to my midnight searches of, “is blah blah blah normal during pregnancy” questions.

Now, I’m someone who likes to plan ahead. And while I’m still in my second trimester, I’ve planned out my nursery, started looking for a full-time ayi, started scouting out K-12 schools and after school programs, and most importantly, I’ve started looking for the perfect pediatrician. Yeah, I have a feeling I’m going to end up a helicopter parent, but what can I say, I don’t like surprises.

From my own personal experience with doctors in Beijing, it’s not always about how famous the hospital is, your doctor’s gender, where they’re from, or which medical school they attended. Sometimes the perfect doctor is the one whom you’re so comfortable around that you share bits of your personal life with, someone who knows your medical history and personal habits. In short, it’s like finding a best friend. You need to find someone who you can really connect with. Having a doctor who remembers you from your past visits, instead of knowing you as just the next patient, can make a world of difference.

Dr. Vanessa Rosado

But what about babies? They’re not going to be able to tell me whether they like their pediatrician or not, so how do I go about finding the right person for them?

I sat down with Dr. Vanessa Rosado, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Oasis International Hospital, to get the 411 on how she prepares her new mommy patients for the next step in their baby’s health journey.

Dr. Rosado is one of those names that tend to come up very often amongst expecting expat moms. Many of us love recommending her because she’s made a reputation for herself as a knowledgeable medical professional with years of experience dealing with various types of pregnancies, and someone who genuinely cares about her patients. With the kind of trust that comes from 10+ months of interactions, her unbiased opinion on selecting a pediatrician is the one that moms will listen to first.

A pediatrician is someone with whom you and your child will build a relationship with for years. Aside from playing the role of treating illnesses, one of the most important jobs of a pediatrician is to monitor the mental and physical health of your child, and prevent illnesses from happening in the first place. Each child will develop at their own pace, and having a pediatrician who has known your child from the start will be helpful when it comes to diagnosing hidden medical conditions.

What about the language barrier? While many expats have picked up Chinese over the years, there’s a good chance that the vocabulary you use in your daily life will make you feel like an HSK Level 1 student all over again when medical terms are tossed into the mix. Most hospitals with expat patients will have a translator service available, but whether you’re actually comfortable with speaking through a translator is completely dependent upon you.

But, with the possible language barrier aside, one thing that Dr. Rosado kept on emphasizing was communication. Like with any long-lasting relationship, communication is key. You want to choose a pediatrician with whom you can easily communicate and understands your needs. For example, the vaccine requirements vary from country to country. A vaccine like Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) for tuberculosis is mandatory in China, but is not a requirement in Germany, and it becomes especially important for expat families to find a pediatrician who follows the international guidelines.

Like with most things in our daily lives here in Beijing, the first place we turn to for information is WeChat. Dr. Rosado recommends expecting parents to start paying attention to pediatrician recommendations from friends when mom is around 36-weeks pregnant. Keep in mind the credentials of the doctor and general feedback from their current patients. Are other kids comfortable with this pediatrician? Do the parents rave about this person or is the feedback mixed?

According to Dr. Rosado, the three most important things to keep in mind when looking for a pediatrician are communication, credentials, and reputation. Does this person explain things in a way that’s easy for you to understand? What works for your friend might not work for you. Find a doctor that you can connect with. Can this person be easily reached either by WeChat or email? If a pediatrician takes weeks to reply, it’s a red flag that you’ll most likely be getting similar treatment when your child is sick and you need medical advice.

Like Goldilocks, it took me a while before I found a General Practitioner (GP) in Beijing that I trust and genuinely enjoy the company of, and I’m not expecting my search for the right pediatrician to be any different. And so, with Dr. Rosado’s advice in mind, my search for the perfect pediatrician begins.

KEEP READING: Make Sure Your Child’s Vaccines Are Up to Date

Photos: Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 May issue

April 25 is National Child Vaccination Awareness Day, but what do you know about getting your child vaccinated here in Beijing? It can definitely be a bit unnerving coming to China, especially with young kids, and trying to figure out how to make sure you have all the right vaccines. Here to demystify it all are two Family Medicine physicians and one pediatrician from Beijing United Family Hospital.

Bringing us the German perspective is Family Medicine physician Dr. Reinhard Krippner, who previously worked as the German Embassy Clinic doctor. Here with the US angle is Family Medicine physician Dr. Lijun Liang, who was educated in China and trained in New York City. Providing more information specifically for kids is pediatrician Dr. Jet Caligagan from the Philippines.

What vaccines are not readily available in China?

Combination vaccines

“In China, there are constant shortages of imported vaccines, and the Chinese-made vaccinations are limited in their combinations,” says Dr. Krippner, explaining that the more diseases you can cover in one vaccine, the fewer injections needed, and the better the result – especially for children. “In Europe, we have the five-in-one and the six-in-one vaccines. Quite a number of these don’t exist in China, and there is a distrust of Chinese vaccinations because of previous scandals,” explains Dr. Krippner.

So, if you’d like to follow a typical Western vaccination schedule with as few vaccinations as possible using all Western-made medications, Dr. Krippner suggests getting as many vaccines as possible back home. “Of course, when your child is born in China, you have no choice,” he adds, “but any follow-up vaccinations that you can plan, it’s best to do them back home.”

Typhoid

“Living in Beijing, typhoid is not a very big risk. It’s only if you’re living in or traveling to very remote areas,” says Dr. Liang. “We don’t have that vaccine because China hasn’t approved it yet and China doesn’t make their own.” She adds that you need to get a booster shot every three years to maintain immunity.

UPDATE: Tetanus and rotavirus vaccines are now available in China.

Which vaccines are needed in China that aren’t on most Western vaccination schedules?

Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B

The reason some vaccines aren’t available in China is that some diseases just aren’t such an issue here. But, conversely, there are certain diseases that do exist in China that Western vaccination schedules may not account for. “That includes Japanese encephalitis,” says Dr. Krippner. “The disease is now rather rare comparatively, but that’s because every Chinese child is vaccinated. If all Chinese children are vaccinated, it means it’s still an issue,” Dr. Krippner cautions. He also recommends getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and B if you haven’t already gotten these shots.

Getting all the vaccines you need before you come to China is ideal, as it allows you and your family to have a full level of immunity upon arrival. However, if the full course of vaccines recommended really can’t be completed before your relocation, Dr.Caligagan advises that you can still get these vaccines once you arrive in China as a last resort. If you need to move in the middle of your child’s vaccination schedule, Dr.Caligagan advises talking to your pediatrician to ensure a smooth transition of your child’s care.

I’ve heard that vaccines in China can be unsafe. Is this true?

“Vaccines, in general, are safe, especially when they are manufactured by reputable pharmaceutical companies who adhere to the highest ethical and evidenced-based standards,” says Dr.Caligagan. Our pharmacists run the BJU pharmacy according to worldwide service quality and patient safety standards. We are committed to ensuring medication safety and improving patient care.

What vaccines can my child get in China?

Below is BJU’s recommended childhood immunization schedule:

For more information about vaccines for children, please contact the BJU Family Medicine Department or the BJU Pediatrics Department.
Operating Hours, Family Medicine Department:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday 8 AM – 7 PM
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday 8 AM – 6 PM
Operating Hours, Pediatrics Department
Monday – Sunday 8:30 AM – 5 PM.
To make an appointment, book through the BJU WeChat portal (ID: BeijingUnited) or call the 24-hour service center at 400 891 9191.

Dr. Reinhard Krippner is a German Family Medicine physician at the United Family Liangma Clinic. He speaks German, English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Indonesian.

Dr. Lijun Liang is an American Family Medicine physician at Beijing United Family Hospital. She speaks English and Mandarin.

Dr. Jet Caligagan is a highly experienced pediatrician from the Philippines. He has over 20 years of clinical experience.

Photos: Beijing United Family Hospital, Unsplash

Previously, we reported how China lacks pediatricians, causing rural and small town residents to flock to big cities for treatment. Now, we discover that the top ten Beijing hospitals with pediatric departments have been rejecting children with “common ailments,” such as cuts and skin problems.

Beijing Today reports that several parents have been bounced from one hospital to another when seeking treatment for their children. Trial and error suggests that if your kid has minor scrapes, cuts, skin infections, and eczema, don’t take your child to one of the top ten Beijing hospitals.

Hospitals that rejected children included the following:

• Children’s Hospital and Capital Institute of Pediatrics
• Second Hospital of Beijing
• Xuanwu Hospital
• Anzhen Hospital

China’s shortage of pediatricians extends to the capital as despite how the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning requires hospitals above level two to offer outpatient pediatric services, most hospitals do not have pediatric departments. According to Cui Hong, the director of pediatrics at Beijing Friendship Hospital, practicing pediatricians make avoiding law suits a priority by choosing to deal with only internal medicine, leaving outpatient pediatrics unmanned.

Updated:

Based on the 2016 appraisal report on the top medical care centers released by Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning. The report ranks medical centers based on service capacity, efficiency, safety and specialization. Find the list below of Beijing’s top ten hospitals below:

1. Beijing University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Rd, Haidian District

2. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District

3. Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yongan Rd, Xicheng District

4. Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Changchunjie, Xicheng District

5. Peking University First Hospital, No. 8 Xishiku Dajie, Xicheng District

6. Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, No. 8 Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District

7. Peking University People’s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District

8. Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District

9. Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Rd, Chaoyang District

10. Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 82 Xinhua Nanlu, Tongzhou District

Photo: Flickr