Extended care provides comprehensive support to patients impresses visiting specialist

The first one-year exchange under the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Healthcare Talents Visiting Programmes will soon come to an end. Dr Kuang Yu-kun is working in the Department of Medicine & Geriatrics at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). He says the exchange has shown him how Hong Kong’s healthcare system provides patients with comprehensive treatment and care even after they are discharged from hospital. He says the exchange has met his expectation and concludes it as ‘perfect’.

Dr Kuang is from the Respiratory Medicine Department of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, and has been working on the respiratory ward during his stay. Reflecting on his time in Hong Kong, he says he benefited a great deal, “Hong Kong has developed a high-quality healthcare system. Extended care services are provided from patient consultation to admission, treatment, and rehabilitation, and even after patients return to the community. It is a thorough system for patients with chronic diseases.” Dr Kuang says he believes some of Hong Kong’s practices could be adopted in the Mainland with further medical development.

During his stay in Hong Kong, Dr Kuang conducted morning ward rounds with other doctors and performed ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration to take samples of patients’ lungs. At noon, he provided consultations at clinic. He jokes that he got the chance to revisit his skills of handling general outpatients and performing lung biopsy which are not often handled by respiratory specialist in the Mainland. He concludes this is a fruitful exchange of experiences. “I gained an understanding of the operation of Hong Kong’s healthcare system which will benefit my work in the Mainland,” Dr Kuang also appreciates the help given to him and other doctors from GBA cities of the Mainland joining this programme by enthusiastic Hong Kong doctors.

Bedside manner breaks down barriers

Deputy Chief of Service at the Department of Medicine & Geriatrics Dr Yeung Yiu-cheong says Dr Kuang was attentive during the interview with HASLink September 2023 edition. After half a year, he still insists on his view. “When I conducted ward rounds, I asked patients if they had any questions. They said that Dr Kuang gave them detailed explanations. You can see how attentive he was. He explained the condition to each patient and comforted them.” Dr Yeung also praises Dr Kuang for taking an active role in helping to perform medical procedures on patients. Dr Kuang has arranged an exchange programme with visit of the endoscopy service in his parent hospital to foster even closer understanding between healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Dr Yeung believes colleagues have a better understanding of the Mainland’s healthcare system because of the visit of the GBA doctors and hopes Hong Kong doctors get the chance to visit hospitals in GBA cities of the Mainland in return. For his part, Dr Kuang says visiting Hong Kong has been an extremely positive experience. Hong Kong provides high-quality healthcare services and advanced medical treatments. He has encouraged colleagues in Guangzhou to sign up for future GBA Healthcare Talents Visiting Programmes.