New book on metabolic disease care to be released

China's first book on quality control in the care of metabolic diseases has been officially completed and will be released soon, according to Shanghai Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.

Based on the practices of quality management at the hospital's endocrine and metabolism department, the book, titled "Excellence, Perseverance, and Innovation- Ruijin Endocrinology's Practices in Quality Management", compiles quantifiable facts and experience to share with peers in the industry and promote the high-quality development of public hospitals nationwide.

In 2021, the department received the fourth China Quality Award for quality health care and was later invited by the Quality Development Bureau of China's State Administration for Market Regulation to contribute to a book series initiated by the bureau – "China's Best Practices in Quality Management in the 21st Century", to share the best practices in quality management.

Notably, Ruijin Hospital is the only organization from the healthcare industry invited as a content contributor in the book series.

Ning Guang, president of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, said at the recent book release ceremony the book is expected to share feasible practices and standards with fellow health professionals across the country and help with quality care for all patients suffering metabolic diseases.

Started in 2016 with support from Lilly China, the hospital led a project building metabolic management centers in partnership with hospitals across the country especially in less-developed regions to help improve treatment outcomes for local patients through the promotion of guidelines.

To date, 1,500 such centers have been established nationwide, according to Ning Guang, who led the project.

Metabolic diseases including Type 2 diabetes are increasingly contributing to China's healthcare burden. Official statistics show one in 10 people in China — around 140 million – now suffers from type 2 diabetes and less than half of them have reached management standards.