Healthcare Special: Safe haven for foreign guests
By Kyle Bueschlen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-08 10:32
 |
Large Medium Small |
Beijing United Family Hospital's first hip replacement a success
New Yorkers Mrs Gitte and her husband Dr John Blass didn't expect a broken hip to interrupt their world cruise, but luckily staff at Beijing United Family Hospital were on hand to provide expert care.
The couple had planned something special for their 50th anniversary: a Princess cruise around the world.
They sailed through the Caribbean and across the pacific, stopping at Fiji, Japan, and then China. That was when an unexpected accident during a Beijing tour cut their trip short, and the pair found themselves in the middle of an emergency in a foreign country. Gitte had broken her hip.
"I fell halfway to Beijing and was taken by an ambulance to a small hospital, which was not a pleasant experience," Gitte recalled. "I was then transferred by a Beijing ambulance to come to Beijing United Family Hospital."
Gitte was relieved by the expediency, facilities, and level of service at Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU).
A medical doctor himself, John was satisfied with the professionalism and compassion of their nursing team, as well as the expertise of their physicians.
Gitte said: "I had an X-ray immediately. The surgeon came and set me up for surgery the next day. I had surgery Saturday night and came back about 3 hours later. Surgery was under 75 minutes for a total hip replacement."
They had the option of going to Hong Kong, but decided against it, feeling it was unnecessary and unwise.
For BJU, Gitte's hip replacement surgery was groundbreaking as it was the first to be performed on-site, highlighting the improving orthopedic capabilities and expertise of their surgery department.
"The doctor who did her surgery is BJU's onsite expert in joint replacement and hip replacement, and he knew exactly what to do," said John. "He gave her a good operation. She's not a national football league player, and yet she came through very well."
"And I'm almost 70," Gitte added.
The doctor was Tian Hua, orthopedics consultant at BJU, one of Beijing's top surgeons and joint specialists. Assisting him was Dr Zhou Fang, also a consultant surgeon at BJU.
"Although this operation was not major - we have done larger and more complicated surgeries - it means that we can do more," Zhou said. "In the past, our surgeons had the capability to perform such surgeries, but our system was not ready. We had to transfer some patients to Hong Kong or back to their home countries, but now our system has improved so we can do much more."
With over 18 years of experience in orthopedic surgery and training overseas in the United States and the United Kingdom, Zhou specializes in orthopedic trauma and spinal surgery.
"This is a good thing for us and for the hospital. We can now admit a wider range of patients for more complicated surgeries."
Meanwhile, Gitte's recovery went very well in one of BJU's private inpatient suites. She and her husband were on their way back to New York a day later.
"A nurse comes within 30 seconds," Gitte said. "The food is amazing for hospital food. We have a wonderful routine and it seems that everyone knows exactly what they're supposed to do. I received physical therapy early on. I made friends with the nurses and we have exchanged e-mails. There are ladies who come by to give me newspapers and flowers and DVDs and manicures and pedicures - it's just been overwhelming!"
"If this hospital existed in New York, we would use it," John said.
John Blass is a medical doctor and Winifred Masterson Burke Professor of Neurology at Cornell University, and was impressed with the level of care that his wife received at the hospital, even when compared with that available at his home in the United States.