East Meets West: The Shanghai Experience

Of all the places visited in China, Shanghai was by far the most western in its appearance and culture. With a population of over 18 million, Shanghai ranks first in population and population density. Beautifully shaped contemporary skyscrapers line the Shanghai skyline, contrasting the older, more traditional buildings.

The first evening in Shanghai, the delegation was treated to an acrobatic show performed by top Chinese acrobatic performers. These incredibly talented performers generally retire in their mid-twenties due to the strenuous acts. Just watching created sweaty palms and heart palpitations.

The next day we experienced the sites and culture in Shanghai. We walked the Bond on the Yangtze River where visitors can view Shanghai’s signature skyscrapers erected less than twenty years ago. From there we toured the Shanghai Museum, housing a high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, coins, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, furniture, and sculpture. We also toured a silk rug factory, a traditional Chinese garden, and shopped in Old Town. Delegates completed their day with a traditional Chinese foot massage.

The professional day included meetings at the Shanghai International Medical Exchange Center and the Shanghai Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine. The meetings focused on reviewing similarities and differences in electronic health records and documentation practices. The Medical Exchange Center affiliates with the Shanghai Health Bureau to facilitate the introduction of new technologies and medical exchange between China and other countries. The photo above shows the delegation presenting to the Shanghai International Medical Exchange Center. Where electronic health records exist in China, they’re used to capture diagnostic procedures, basic collection of demographics and health statistics, and financial administration. China uses ICD 10 rather than ICD 9 as we do in the U.S.

The hospital we visited in Shanghai was the most modern and clean facility in China. The physicians we met with attribute this to the increased competition in Shanghai for patients since more hospitals are located there and the influence of Western culture through television and movies. When the Chinese see modern, clean hospitals in the West, they want the same things in their hospitals. Much changed when President Nixon opened relations with China in the early ‘70s and Western medicine was introduced and widely used throughout China. Computers were introduced in the hospital in 1984 and information based medical recording started in 1998. However, many of the traditional Chinese medicine doctors don’t know how to use computers. This facility and others throughout China that use computers still rely on the printed medical record.