On September 10, in celebration of its 105th anniversary and China’s 42nd Teachers’ Day, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) hosted the Finals of the 2nd Acute and Critical Care Skills Competition for Young Healthcare Professionals & Teachers’ Day Tribute. Featuring individual challenges, team contests, and round-robin showdowns, the competition rigorously tested contestants’ medical knowledge, clinical judgment, and practical skills in acute and critical care through knowledge Q&A and hands-on skills assessments. The event was attended by PUMCH Vice President Du Bin and Shi Ninghui, Secretary of the Youth League Committee of the National Health Commission (NHC) Departments and Affiliated Entities.
In the mandatory round, "Seeking the Medical Path," a challenging Torsades de Pointes (TdP) ECG had all the contestants racking their brains. Associate Chief Physician Yang Deyan from the Department of Cardiology stepped in with an in-depth clinical analysis, elucidating step by step the R-on-T phenomenon, QTc intervals, and arrhythmia interpretation. The competition reached a fever pitch in the buzzer round, "Navigating the Perilous Peak," driven by a high-stakes scoring system that penalized incorrect answers. One question was about acquired hemophilia involving Factor VIII inhibitors and APTT mixing studies, and Chief Physician Yang Jing from the Department of Emergency explained the answer and confirmed prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) as the preferred intervention.
▲Contestants answering questions
A standout highlight this year was the CPR round, "Summit Duel," where an expert panel collaborated with an AI agent for performance scoring, echoing the trend of AI-empowered medical education. In realistic clinical emergency scenarios recreated by patient simulators, the competing teams sprang into swift action. Associate Chief Physician Hu Xiaoyun from MICU commended both teams on their resuscitation capabilities and also pointed out areas for improvement during the initial patient assessment.
In the round-robin showdown "Who’s Still Standing," contestants went toe-to-toe across a wide array of clinical topics, from radiographic recognition of pneumothorax and clinical manifestations of nitrite poisoning to indications for plasma exchange in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Contestants rose to the occasion with fierce determination, drawing rounds of applause from the audience.
The competition was fierce, and ultimately the "Tell Me We're Right" Team clinched the championship with a top score of 308 points. "The Cardio-Avengers" took second place, while "Hold the Norepi" and "Here Comes the Bull" secured third-place honors. Honorable Mention awards went to "Rapid Rescuers," "Critical Care Vanguards," "Fast-Track Foodies," and "Rescue by Your Side."
In his concluding commentary, Zhu Huadong, Director of the Department of Emergency, praised the contest as fiercely contested and brilliantly executed. He emphasized that interprofessional pairing between physicians and nurses is vital for training seamless teamwork during emergency scenarios. Long Yun, Director of the Department of Intensive Care Unit, stressed that the transformative value of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical training cannot be overstated, urging young medical professionals to proactively embrace and leverage AI tools.
The event was held in a hybrid format, streaming live to healthcare professionals at Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital, Cangzhou Central Hospital, PUMCH Healthcare Consortium partner institutions, and the Macao Medical Center of PUMCH.