First batch of 22 regional health centers established in Shanghai

Local health authorities have launched the first batch of 22 regional health service centers, which allow patients to access high-quality medical services close to homes.

These centers offer imaging, clinical testing and pathology services. They bring neighborhood health centers and district hospitals under a unified health service network.

Songjiang District Central Hospital is one of the regional health centers, which oversees 15 neighborhood health centers and six district-level hospitals in its region.

All medical data and information are shared within the network. Patients can receive medical tests at neighborhood health centers and experts in the diagnosis center at Songjiang District Central Hospital will do analysis and send their diagnosis back to the neighborhood health center.

At the same time, a health service system on cardiovascular diseases, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and hypertension has also been established, allowing patients to be transferred within the system according to their condition. The practice allows patients with complicated conditions to receive timely treatment in senior hospitals while being transferred to grassroots hospitals for rehabilitation and post-surgery management to better use the limited medical resources.