YiXunTong: Paving the Way for Internet-Based Chronic Disease Management

With the widespread application and in-depth development of information technology in healthcare management, hospital service processes for patients have undergone significant changes, resulting in more efficient diagnosis and treatment procedures and more accurate and comprehensive information. However, in the area of chronic disease monitoring and management, China’s level of informatization remains relatively low.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases have become the leading cause of death globally. In China, chronic diseases, led by cardiovascular disease and diabetes, account for 85% of all deaths annually, and their share of the national disease-related economic burden exceeds 70%, imposing a substantial social burden. Between 2010 and 2040, reducing the annual mortality rate from cardiovascular disease by 1% would generate economic value equivalent to 68% of China’s 2010 gross domestic product, amounting to more than $10.7 trillion (World Bank Report, 2011).

The hallmark of chronic diseases is their prolonged course, often necessitating continuous care, long-term medication, and frequent follow-up examinations. The associated high medical costs impose a substantial burden on patients’ families. While pharmacological therapy can alleviate symptoms and retard disease progression to some extent, it is even more critical to modify unhealthy lifestyle habits by implementing rational planning and control over diet, physical activity, and daily routines. Furthermore, the patient’s level of active engagement, self-management capacity, and adherence significantly influence disease outcomes.

Therefore, relying solely on patients’ self-discipline for chronic disease management is not a sustainable long-term strategy. Patients require structured chronic disease management models to help them adhere to treatment plans and strengthen self-management. Such prolonged and intensive monitoring and management are not well-suited for delivery by centralized medical institutions.

In summary, China has entered a period of high burden from chronic diseases, characterized by "a large number of patients, high medical costs, long disease duration, and substantial demand for services."

“YiXunTong”’s chronic disease management feature centers on establishing an effective model for patient education and adherence management under the guidance of professional physicians.

As mentioned above, the onset and progression of chronic diseases are often associated with patients’ unhealthy lifestyles, and it is not easy for patients to rely solely on self-discipline to change their established lifestyle habits. Therefore, in addition to providing health education lectures in various formats on an irregular basis, Yixuntong has entrusted the implementation of chronic disease management to primary care physicians, who are the most familiar healthcare providers in patients’ immediate communities.

Primary care physicians use the “Micro-Clinic” feature of Yixuntong to establish targeted chronic disease management records for their patients. By leveraging new platforms such as mobile internet technologies, wearable devices, and medical big data platforms, they can record and analyze individual patient health data in real time. Based on the specific needs of each patient’s condition, physicians monitor various health indicators and provide health assessments, disease predictions, and improvement recommendations. When a patient’s condition changes and exceeds the primary care physician’s capacity to manage or requires additional support, the physician can request guidance from other specialists through the Micro-Clinic mode configured in Yixuntong. If necessary, real-time connectivity and high-definition video consultations are available to obtain clear and prompt remote medical guidance. Furthermore, when a patient’s condition requires access to specialized medical services, the primary care physician can facilitate medical information services such as green-channel access, diagnostic testing at partner hospitals, and expedited referrals.

Yixuntong’s chronic disease management system, centered on the “Micro-Clinic” model, provides comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for patients with chronic conditions, representing a valuable practical exploration of internet healthcare in chronic disease management. Since its launch, this feature has been highly acclaimed by both physicians and patients.

Mr. Cai Junfang, Founder of the "Yi Xun Tong" Project in Henan

Mr. Cai Junfang, founder of the “Yixuntong” project in Henan Province, stated, “There are still significant gaps in China’s chronic disease management system. The existing healthcare framework is ill-suited to meet the needs of chronic disease management. Transforming and innovating the current system is a difficult and painful process, entailing high transition costs while potentially yielding low efficiency. It is therefore more advantageous to leverage ‘Internet Plus’ technologies to build an efficient chronic disease management system on top of the existing infrastructure. Furthermore, we will continue to promote the integration of artificial intelligence into chronic disease management processes, thereby saving valuable physician time and substantially reducing management costs. As a result, the economic benefits of chronic disease management will become even more pronounced.”

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