Tianjin Launches Remote Joint Clinics with Beijing's Top Medical Experts to Advance Tiered Healthcare System

Recently, the “Smart Healthcare, Healthy Future” online joint outpatient clinic, launched by Tianjin Xiqing Hospital and Tianjin WeDoctor Internet Hospital, was officially inaugurated. This means that residents of Tianjin can access diagnostic and treatment plans from Beijing-based specialists at their doorstep, while still retaining the reimbursement rates of Tianjin’s local medical insurance. This initiative not only provides the public with more convenient and efficient medical services but also accelerates the development of a tiered diagnosis and treatment system and promotes the expansion and downward distribution of high-quality medical resources.

As a leading district-level hospital, Xiqing Hospital has launched joint clinics in collaboration with Tianjin WeDoctor Internet Hospital, marking a novel initiative to break down the temporal and spatial barriers of healthcare through digital platforms. This effort represents another concrete measure demonstrating care for grassroots communities and service to the public. Experts from Beijing are empowering primary care institutions with core medical capabilities of public hospitals through “Internet-based Joint Clinics” and a “collaborative network between upper- and lower-tier physicians,” thereby better leveraging the advantages of resource sharing. Residents can access around-the-clock, 24-hour medical services via their mobile devices. Following an initial trial period, the joint clinics staffed by Beijing experts and Xiqing Hospital physicians have provided services to over 800 patient visits, truly enabling residents within the jurisdiction to enjoy high-quality medical care close to home.

In response to patient demand, Xiqing Hospital has partnered with WeDoctor Holdings to launch online joint outpatient services in a series of departments, including internal medicine and surgery, achieving significant success.

The patient is consulting about the online joint outpatient service.

“Through such services, patients can access high-quality resources from major hospitals in Beijing without leaving Tianjin. In the process of conducting joint outpatient consultations, the service capabilities of doctors at Xiqing Hospital will also be enhanced. Furthermore, this service model helps to further promote the development of tiered diagnosis and treatment,” introduced Yang Yungui, Vice President of Xiqing Hospital. “For instance, many patients in internal medicine and surgery have complex conditions that often require multiple visits to different hospitals and consultations with various doctors before a final treatment plan is determined. The implementation of online joint outpatient clinics reduces the need for patients to travel extensively. We invite experts from Beijing to provide diagnostic and treatment services and finalize treatment plans online, thereby strengthening patients’ confidence in their care. If needed, we can subsequently invite these experts to the hospital for offline consultations, which will greatly meet the medical needs of patients in Xiqing District. Meanwhile, patients can access services from national medical experts while benefiting from Tianjin’s medical insurance policies.”

Reporters learned that Tianjin WeDoctor Internet Hospital is a subsidiary of WeDoctor Holdings, linking traditional hospitals and high-quality doctors from major hospitals across various regions. The online joint consultation represents a remote collaboration between “top-tier specialists” and “offline physicians.” During the joint consultation, offline physicians initiate consultation requests to online specialists based on patients’ clinical conditions, enabling real-time three-party interaction. Offline physicians serve as the “eyes” and “hands” of the online specialists, who can request them to perform relevant examinations for patients and ensure effective delivery of follow-up medical services.

Ms. Chen, a patient who frequently suffered from dizziness, saw no improvement despite taking numerous medications. She wished to consult renowned specialists in Beijing but was concerned about the hardships of travel. Upon the recommendation of Dr. Zhang Zhifang from the Department of Neurology at Xiqing Hospital, a connection was established with Associate Chief Physician Min Baoquan from the Department of Neurology at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. The three parties scheduled an online consultation. In the neurosurgery consultation room at Xiqing Hospital, Dr. Zhang conducted a three-way video call with Dr. Min and Ms. Chen via a telemedicine platform. After briefly reviewing the patient’s medical history, Dr. Zhang performed a physical examination and discussed the findings with the specialist. Dr. Min received immediate feedback from Dr. Zhang and accessed test data and imaging results in real time, ultimately making a comprehensive assessment and determining the treatment plan. “It was just like an in-person visit—so convenient,” said patient Chen Shangping. It is reported that after receiving treatment, the Beijing-based specialist will continue to guide the patient’s rehabilitation through online consultations, providing end-to-end services covering pre-diagnosis, during-treatment, and post-treatment phases.

The joint outpatient clinic has cumulatively served patients over 800 times, with patient consultations occurring daily.

With Tianjin Xiqing Hospital serving as a pilot partner, community hospitals in Xiqing District are also poised to launch similar remote outpatient collaborations. In the future, this model will be gradually rolled out across China, effectively decentralizing medical expertise to the grassroots level. This will enable residents to access diagnostic and treatment services from national medical experts near their homes, while still benefiting from local health insurance reimbursement rates.