Love knows no bounds, our pediatricians safeguard the health of children in high-altitude areas

It may seem a bit dramatic to say it, but at that time, I felt very excited, thinking that I could apply what I had learned and go where the country needed me

In July 2024, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital publicly selected doctors to support the western region. Liu Li calmly submitted her application form to go to Xining grassroots hospital for six months of assistance. She had this idea and received her husband's support. As medical workers, "we still have some of the idealism we had back then," Liu Li joked.

learn in order to practise

Help plateau children regain their smiles

Liu Li is an attending physician in the pediatrics department of Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital. At the end of July, Liu Li followed Dean Zou Xiaoping as a medical expert representative sent by the Qixia District Health Commission in Nanjing and arrived in Huangzhong District, Xining. Nanjing City and Xining City signed a strategic agreement on assistance and economic cooperation in 2017, and since then, Qixia District of Nanjing City and Huangzhong District of Xining City have formed a paired assistance relationship, continuing to carry out assistance and cooperation in fields such as healthcare, education, and agriculture. Dean Zou was specially invited to give lectures and conduct teaching rounds in the local area, and I was fortunate to follow and learn from him, "Liu Li admitted. Before departure, his enthusiasm was dampened by the severe backlash, causing dizziness, headaches, and chest tightness. Liu Li felt uneasy while taking oxygen in his room.

Zou Xiaoping is the president of Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, vice president of Nanjing Gulou Hospital Group, and a well-known gastroenterologist in China. When he arrived in Huangzhong, he also experienced high fever and discomfort. The dean came specifically to remind me to be careful of altitude sickness and rest, but he took a short break and prepared to start working. At that time, he gave me confidence

Liu Li stayed at the First People's Hospital of Huangzhong District and immediately started the reception work, and the challenge came soon. In early August, Liu Li received a 13-year-old boy named Xiao Hao who suffered from epilepsy. Upon admission, he had been coughing and feverish for a week. After examination, he was diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and severe pneumonia. After 3 days of routine medication, the child's condition did not improve significantly. Considering that he was also taking antiepileptic drugs, Liu Li found it difficult to change the existing treatment plan and adjust medication.

Liu Li treats children in Huangzhong

When faced with difficulties, I still thought of my own hospital and team, "Liu Li recalled. Before leaving, the department head explained that Taikang Xianlin was the business support. Yao Jin, the then director of pediatrics at Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, provided online guidance to Liu Li and adjusted the child's medication. Six days after admission, Xiaohao's condition improved, and a chest CT scan was conducted 10 days later. Xiaohao's pneumonia had significantly improved, and he was soon ready to be discharged.

It is reported that since 2022, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital has jointly built a medical system with Nanjing Children's Hospital and established the "Nanjing Children's Hospital Xianlin Branch". The Children's Hospital not only regularly dispatches multiple experts to Xianlin for consultations, but also appoints highly professional and well managed experts as the pediatric director of Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, implementing homogeneous management with the Children's Hospital to quickly improve the treatment level and service capabilities of the pediatric team. Liu Li has also gained great growth and experience in his work in recent years.

During Xiao Hao's treatment, there was a small incident that left a deep impression on Liu Li. Liu Li often talks to Xiao Hao's parents about his illness. Although they may not fully understand the description of the illness, as they watch their son become more active day by day, their worried faces gradually disappear. After Xiao Hao can live normally, he will hold a carefully selected fruit, either an apple or a banana, and fill the hospital room with Liu Li every afternoon, saying, "Huan Huan (Qinghai dialect, meaning aunt), let me give you some fruit to eat. Xiao Hao's smiling face gave Liu Li a sense of achievement, and at the same time, she missed her husband and children even more. "In Huangzhong, my major is improving, my mind has become more mature, and I am grateful," Liu Li said.

Pediatrics is a particularly busy department, also known as the "mute department" in the industry, because the children are young, their conditions are complex, and their symptoms are diverse, making it difficult to express their symptoms in detail. This not only brings difficulties to diagnosis, but also tests the doctors' level of treatment experience.

Months had passed in a blink of an eye, and Liu Li followed the goal she had set for herself in Nanjing: not to waste every day in the west, as long as she was in the hospital, she tried her best to take on more outpatient visits and take care of more children in the wards. With her actions, she won unanimous praise from colleagues and parents of sick children.

In early November, Liu Li received another banner. 9-year-old Xiaoming has been coughing for several days. He was diagnosed with lobar pneumonia in other local hospitals, but was unable to be hospitalized due to a lack of beds. On the recommendation of local doctors, experts from Nanjing came to visit the First People's Hospital of Huangzhong District and could give it a try. His parents were impressed and found Liu Li. Xiaoming was successfully admitted to the hospital and after 8 days of treatment, the inflammation was basically cured. When going for a follow-up appointment, Xiaoming's family specially brought a banner.

Liu Li provides free medical consultations for local villagers at the grassroots level

Encouragement from colleagues

Leave behind a medical team that won't leave

In addition to treating the children, Liu Li also has an important task for this trip. Compared to Jiangsu, the medical foundation in Huangzhong is relatively weak. Liu Li hopes to establish a channel for medical technology exchange and learning between the two places through his own efforts, update some local treatment methods, and work with other medical aid team members to leave a medical team that cannot leave. From early childhood treatment, nursing, medication dosage, to outpatient consultations, ward rounds, and even professional training on the causes, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric diseases, in order to ensure that primary hospitals are strong and robust. In addition to consultations, Liu Li offers theoretical courses and conducts discussions on difficult cases for colleagues at the First People's Hospital of Huangzhong District. He answers questions and clarifies doubts in special lectures and teaches through skill operation demonstrations, making every effort to help everyone comprehensively and effectively master new technologies and concepts.

Liu Li teaches pediatric medical staff at the First People's Hospital of Huangzhong District

This is not a unilateral output, but mutual communication, "Liu Li gained a new understanding of her assistance work. On the one hand, Liu Li and the medical team of Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital behind her jointly exported the treatment standards and experience of pediatric diseases to the local area, which enabled the pediatrics department of the First People's Hospital of Huangzhong District to treat previously untreated cases, including scarlet fever, allergic purpura, severe pneumonia, etc.

On the other hand, due to regional differences, seasonal colds, pneumonia, and other common illnesses among children in Nanjing are not common in Huangzhong. More of their children may have urinary tract infections, acute enteritis, diarrhea, and other problems. "To better help these children, I must also focus on learning and improving my skills. The clear and pleading eyes I see in the clinic have become my driving force for progress.

Praising Life

A journey full of spiritual strength

During these days of going out, Liu Li still maintained a special connection with her beloved hometown. Liu Li has always insisted on attending the "Spark Program" training courses online. She was the only student in this class who did not attend the classes in person, although it made Liu Li even busier and more tired. The "Spark Program" is a training program for Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital to select and cultivate outstanding young talents. It has been launched since 2021, selecting reserve doctors from numerous young doctors with the aim of systematically learning and cultivating them into young medical backbone with "Taikang genes and Xianlin blood".

Entering December, the six-month assistance period is about to expire. Due to Liu Li's outstanding performance, the First People's Hospital of Huangzhong District and the Huangzhong Health Bureau are trying their best to persuade him to extend the assistance period to one year. On one hand, there are eagerly awaiting comrades from the western region, and on the other hand, there is a shortage of manpower in our own hospital during the winter work peak. This is not only a challenge for Liu Li, but also the decision of Dean Zou Xiaoping.

As a doctor, whenever there is a call, regardless of height or distance, one must go. "Due to work arrangements, Liu Li briefly returned to Nanjing. I met Liu Li in the outpatient hall of the hospital. She has short, neat hair, a slightly darker face, and speaks faster. When it came to whether to continue staying in Huangzhong, Liu Li smiled again and said, "The dean talked to me, and we actually reached an agreement quickly.

The ideal of stepping into the door of medicine back then, and now the sentiment of benevolence and compassion, cannot be lost. Liu Li said that in two days, she will go to the west again and return to Nanjing. Although she feels more at ease even breathing, setting off again will be a journey full of spiritual strength. During the conversation, sunlight shone through the glass curtain wall, and a row of red characters printed on the wall of the hall read 'Respect life, care for life, and praise life'.

In July 2022, Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital established a strategic partnership with Nanjing Children's Hospital, jointly building a pediatric medical consortium and listing the "Nanjing Children's Hospital Xianlin Branch". At present, Nanjing Children's Hospital has dispatched several senior medical experts with deputy high or above professional titles to visit Taikang Xianlin, and also organizes free clinics, disease screening, science popularization and education activities from time to time. Since the beginning of this year, the pediatric outpatient department and wards of Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital affiliated with Nanjing University School of Medicine have been relocated and upgraded. The outpatient area will be expanded, and after the reopening of the pediatric outpatient department, it will carry comprehensive treatment functions such as nebulization and rescue. In addition, the pediatric ward has expanded from 23 beds to 32 beds, with single, double, and quadruple rooms available. Modern specialized medical facilities and comfortable environments are more conducive to the treatment and care of pediatric patients.