In order to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment, improve patient experience and promote the high-quality development of various disciplines, the Department of Internal Medicine , with the strong support of the PUMCH leadership, arranged for the chief resident of internal medicine to attend consultations for emergency patients and work closely with the Department of Emergency to assist in triaging patients to various specialty wards according to their conditions. Since its implementation on October 20, 2021, the beneficial arrangement has significantly improved the efficiency of consultation for patients with acute and critical illnesses and has proved effective.

After reporting to the Department of Medical Affairs, the Department of Internal Medicine, the Department of Emergency, the chief of each specialty of internal medicine and the doctors in charge of each ward of internal medicine have held many communication and coordination meetings to meticulously discuss and identify objectives and mechanisms and specify responsibilities and procedures of the chief resident of internal medicine who is assigned to be “stationed” at the emergency department. For this to go smoothly, the internal medicine shift change is advanced from 8:00 a.m. to 7:10 a.m. After the end of the internal medicine shift change at 7:30 a.m., the chief of the Department of Internal Medicine on duty that day leads the chief resident of internal medicine to the Department of Emergency to participate in the general shift change, and they then participate in the shift change of resuscitation room and the observation room respectively, depending on the situation. Then the chief resident moves among various emergency wards, depending on where he is needed, taking on the consultation and patient triage for the day. This arrangement has received strong support from the Department of Emergency and is welcomed by emergency patients; it is also of great use for the chief resident of internal medicine to rapidly improve his clinical diagnosis and treatment capability.

The Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Emergency held communication and coordination meetings and discussed the working mechanism.

The chief resident of internal medicine attended specialty operation training.

The chief resident of internal medicine was examining patients in the emergency room.

Text: Chen Xiao, the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Emergency

Photo: Sun Liang and the Department of Internal Medicine

Translator: Liu Haiyan

Editor: Wang Yao