Normal services return at city hospitals
Visitors have to make online appointments for outpatient services before visiting a doctor to avoid gatherings and lower infection risks.
After adding more staff and improving procedures, hospitals in Shanghai were operating smoothly on Monday, when general outpatient services fully reopened and specialist outpatient clinics, inpatient and surgical services gradually became accessible again.
Shanghai Health Commission is encouraging patients to make online appointments before visiting hospitals to avoid gatherings and lower COVID-19 infection risks.
Safety measures and visitor management at hospitals are being strengthened to monitor visitors’ health during the epidemic.
At Renji Hospital, where appointment services started a week ago, all visitors have to complete a survey online or fill in forms before entering. Patients’ temperatures have to be checked before entering clinics.
“It’s a little bit annoying, but it’s all for the best even though we might get into the hospital slower than before,” said the mother of one patient.
A medical worker guides visitors through appointment registration at Renji Hospital.
For elderly people and others not familiar with smartphone use, forms on paper are available at the entrance to Renji Hospital.
Visitors to Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital and other hospitals required people to use the Suishenban app to enter more efficiently. Volunteers are on site to help guide visitors with registration, particularly for elderly people unfamiliar with online operations.
On Monday, all 32 outpatient departments at the hospital resumed general and specialist services, including ophthalmology,, head and neck surgery, the endoscopic center and dental department.
The health commission also recommends online consulting services for patients with mild symptoms, while urging those with severe symptoms to seek timely treatment.
Currently, all hospital emergency departments are working day and night, with emergency surgery and necessary medical services provided as usual.
So far, six hospitals in Shanghai have been issued with online business licenses, and 38 have set up online consulting services.
A volunteer guides patients to scan the Suishenban app at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital on Monday morning.
A volunteer checks a patient's smartphone at Zhongshan Hospital.
Patients are advised to stay in single file and at a distance of a meter between each other as they lined up outside Zhongshan Hospital on Monday morning.
