VCBEAT Insights Series on Healthcare Innovation: Perspectives from Hospital Leaders

Following the advent of the “Healthcare + Internet” model, more specialized models such as “Physician + Internet” and “Hospital + Internet” have emerged. The ultimate goal of all these initiatives is to streamline and lighten hospital workflows. The key to this effort lies in a shift in mindset, with hospital presidents’ perspectives being of paramount importance. In this article, VCBeat compiles innovative insights from hospital presidents, exploring their diverse reflections on the “Internet+” trend.

▲ Chen Xiaoming | President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University

▼The Core of Hospital Reform Is a Shift in Mindset

"Many things within the hospital are clear to us but not to patients; many of our signage and instructions are understandable only to staff, not to others. This indicates that we are not aligning with customer needs, and there is significant room for improvement. I interpret this as the digitalization of legacy workflows."

For instance, the issue of queuing is actually quite simple: if you have more machines, won’t the queues be shorter? At our hospital, we have 290 machines, so patients do not need to wait in line.

Therefore, I believe this is not a technological revolution, nor a revolution in software and speed; it is a revolution in mindset. If mindsets and thinking do not change, then the Internet and all related technologies will be of no use.

▲Zhou Shenglai | Vice President of Beijing Anzhen Hospital

▼Mobile Internet Healthcare Is Not Equivalent to "Internet Plus" Healthcare

Regarding the first major issue, I would like to address the third point: mobile internet healthcare is not synonymous with “Internet Plus” healthcare. The industry cannot be successfully developed simply by combining individuals from the medical field with those from the internet sector. Achieving success requires physicians to learn and understand new technologies, concepts, and methodologies of the internet; simultaneously, professionals in the mobile internet industry must understand, study, and research the unique characteristics of physicians and the healthcare sector. Only by leveraging these synergies to achieve an effect greater than the sum of its parts can mobile internet healthcare services be delivered comprehensively and effectively. In my view, the most critical factor is for all stakeholders to thoroughly examine the four quadrants of the healthcare industry.

▲ Shen Farong | President of Zhejiang Greentown Cardiovascular Hospital

▼The integration of the internet and healthcare is about doing what has never been done before, making what is currently being done even better.

In my view, the integration of the internet and healthcare is not necessarily equivalent to “Internet Plus Healthcare,” as healthcare possesses significant unique characteristics that distinguish it markedly from industries such as fast-food delivery or convenience meal purchases. Regarding “Healthcare Plus Internet,” I believe it can be summarized in two phrases: doing things that have never been done before, and improving what is currently being done. In other words, the integration of healthcare with the internet has the potential to make the healthcare service process highly efficient and standardized.

▲ Duan Tao | President, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University

▼ True mHealth Innovation Requires Three Parties and Three Circles

True innovation in mobile healthcare requires the essential conditions to break through the status quo. First, it is necessary to transform the roles of healthcare providers, patients, and payers. Currently, patients are the most active group in China, but doctors and hospitals have not yet made substantial commitments in most cases. The third party is the payer; commercially viable third-party payers in China are still immature and account for a very small proportion. Therefore, the emergence of truly commercial third-party payers in China is prerequisite to triggering a fundamental transformation in the mobile healthcare landscape.

Second is the integration of the three rings: apps that connect people to people, wearable medical devices that connect people to things, and the Internet of Things (IoT) that connects things to things. In addition to linking these respective rings, internal integration within each ring is also required. Only by achieving true integration among all three parties can hospitals be led toward the development of mobile healthcare.

In addition to the transformation of third-party entities and the integration of the three-tier healthcare system, other key factors include the liberation of physicians and the sharing of patient medical histories. Currently, there are no visible signs of true physician liberation. The physician groups that emerged recently do not represent genuine liberation. True liberation will only be achieved when physicians are no longer employees of tertiary Grade A hospitals but instead fully break away from the state-controlled system to engage in freelance practice with multiple practice sites.

Another form of liberation pertains to patient information, particularly medical histories, which are largely retained within hospitals and remain mostly undigitized and unstructured. Consequently, patients cannot access their prior medical records after leaving the hospital. Therefore, unless patient medical histories and physicians are freed from these constraints, the realization of mobile internet healthcare will be exceedingly difficult.

▲Pan Zhongying | President of Beijing United Family Hospital

▼Hospitals and physician groups are a natural fit

Collaboration between hospitals and physician groups, particularly surgical groups with operative backgrounds, should be a natural fit.

Currently, physician groups in China are emerging continuously, with various models being adopted. However, the key to their long-term sustainability lies in whether they have clearly defined how to effectively implement their integration with hospitals.

Meanwhile, while providing a large platform for physician groups, hospitals also face the challenge of verifying whether physicians’ qualifications and surgical scopes are appropriate.

▲ Wu Jixiang | President, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University

▼In the era of “Internet+,” everyone must embrace the Internet

With the advancement of technology, an unexpected era of the Internet is bound to arrive. As for how the Internet integrates with healthcare, I believe that physicians must have direct contact with patients when providing medical care. The Internet can serve as a platform and a tool to support doctors, hospitals, and medical services; however, it cannot replace the physical presence of hospitals, nor can it substitute for physicians in diagnosing and treating patients.

▲ Wang Yipeng | Vice President of Peking Union Medical College Hospital

▼ Internet Companies and Hospitals Should Achieve Win-Win Cooperation

Internet companies should give more thought to how they can leverage internet-based approaches to maximize the advantages of these high-quality medical resources. The goal should be integration and mutual benefit, rather than disruption or competition.

▲ You Xiangdong | Vice President, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine

▼The core values of healthcare services are patient-centeredness and service excellence

Our core values are patient-centricity and service excellence. "Internet + Healthcare" must return to its original intent; if it facilitates physicians' work and benefits patients, then regardless of the specific platform or mechanism employed, it is something that should be pursued.
 

▲ Li Wenzhou | Vice President of Wuhan Central Hospital

▼ With the rise of “Internet Plus,” the number of hospital doctors and patients will only increase

The internet has established a brand that has opened the doors of hospitals, transforming physicians from employees bound to their institutions into independent practitioners; however, hospital directors must carefully consider this issue.

From two perspectives, hospital physicians will expand their reach beyond the institution, while more physicians will also be drawn into it. Hospitals should proactively embrace the internet and excel in management and brand building. In this way, I believe that not only will there be more physicians, but also more patients.

▲ Sun Xizhuo | President of Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital

▼ Public hospital reform must not be reduced to a mere formality; it must be advanced thoroughly

Reforming public hospitals is a systematic endeavor that ultimately relies on the government’s top-level design and the driving force of society. Public hospitals, physicians, and healthcare professionals are all key stakeholders in this process. Our goal is to provide better services to patients. By leveraging all available means to fulfill our responsibilities, we can make a modest contribution to the reform of public hospitals.

▲ Ding Yitao | Honorary President of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School

▼ Proper Use of “Internet+” Will Drive Large-Scale Transformation in Healthcare Delivery Models

“Internet Plus” is a tool, and its proper use will bring about large-scale transformation in healthcare models.

It leverages both online and offline channels to continuously improve efficiency and accelerate the shift toward precision medicine. As patient demands evolve and government policies compel change, private hospitals are poised to emerge as a powerful force. It is crucial to remain attuned to this trend and recognize these transformations.

This article will be continuously updated...