With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, its application in hospital management is gradually becoming an important means to improve operational efficiency and the quality of patient health care. This article systematically explores the multidimensional applications of AI in hospital management, including medical services, administration, patient engagement and experience. Through in-depth analysis, the paper evaluates the potential of AI in these areas, especially the significant effect in improving operational efficiency and optimising patient healthcare services. However, the application of AI also faces many challenges, such as data privacy issues, algorithmic bias, operational management, and economic factors. This article not only identifies these challenges, but also provides specific inspiration and recommendations for hospital management in China, emphasises the importance of adaptability and continuous learning, and calls on hospital administrators to actively embrace change in order to achieve both improved patient health outcomes and operational efficiency.
Objective To establish standards, methods and processes for evidence-based evaluation and selection of essential medicine that meet the needs of the 8 pilot township health centers in China. Methods A descriptive analysis was conducted to compare the similarities/differences and the advantages/disadvantages of the standards, methods and processes between the World Health Organization (WHO) essential medicines evaluation and selection, and the GRADE evidence quality and recommend intensity. In combination with the former outcomes of this series of study, the standards, methods and processes of evidence-based evaluation and selection of essential medicines in the domestic pilot township health centers were optimized, restructured and improved. Softwares such as GRADEprofiler were used to assess the quality of evidence. Results a) Localized standards, methods and processes for evidence-based evaluation and selection of essential medicine were established, and the evaluation tool was ascertained; and b) Disease and drug names, guidelines and searching processes for evaluation and selection of essential medicine were developed with standardized, systematic and transparent approaches. Conclusion a) Standards, methods and processes for searching, evaluating and recommending the best evidence are preliminarily established, through comparative analysis on the effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness and applicability of the candidate medicines for diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases in township health centers in China; b) Following the principle of “utilizing the best existing evidences and developing the urgently-needed but lacking evidence”, a good exploration was done for the localization, standardization and transparency of the standards, methods and processes of evidence-based evaluation and selection of essential medicine for pilot township health centers.
Objective To evaluate and select essential medicine for middle-aged and elderly women with primary osteoporosis using evidence-based methods based on the burden of disease. Methods By means of the approaches, criteria, and workflow set up in the second article of this series, we referred to the recommendations of evidence-based or authority guidelines from inside and outside China, collected relevant evidence from domestic clinical studies, and recommended essential medicine based on evidence-based evaluation. Data were analyzed by Review Manager (RevMan) 5.1 and GRADE profiler 3.6 to evaluate quality of evidence. Results (1) 18 guidelines were included, 14 of which were evidence-based or based on expert consensus. Recommended medicines included bisphosphonates, calcitonin, estrogen, parathyroid hormone, selective estrogen receptor modulator, strontium and Chinese patent drug. (2) A result of one quasi-RCT (very low quality) indicated that caltrate D had a better effect on elderly women with primary osteoporosis than calcium gluconate in improving bone mineral density (BMD) (MD=0.04, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.06) and ameliorating bone ache ( RR=2.64, 95%CI 1.40 to 4.96). A few cases treated by caltrate D presented with adverse reaction such as gastrointestinal discomfort, poor appetite, constipation and nausea which disappeared later. Caltrate D (calcium carbonate D3) with good applicability cost 1.00 yuan daily. (3) A result of one RCT (low quality) indicated that alendronate had a better effect than caltrate D in improving L2-L4 BMD (MD=0.06, 95%CI 0.017 to 0.10) and ameliorating bone ache (RR=1.8, 95%CI 1.40 to 2.52). A result of two RCTs (moderate quality) indicated that alendronate plus calcium carbonate plus vitamin D6 had a better effect than calcium carbonate plus vitamin D in improving L2-L4 BMD (MD=0.05, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.08) and reducing blood alkaline phosphatase (MD=–31.9, 95%CI –54.99 to –8.81). There were slight adverse effects mainly including gastrointestinal reaction. Alendronate with fairly poor applicability cost 2.67 yuan daily. (4) A result of one RCT (moderate quality) indicated that after a 3-month treatment, Xian Ling Gu Bao Jiao Nang (name of a Chinese patent drug, abbreviated as XLGB) plus calcium preparation had a better effect than calcium preparation alone (MD=10, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.15). A result of one RCT (moderate quality) indicated that given for 3 to 6 months, XLGB plus calcium preparation was superior to calcium preparation alone in increasing the density of Ward’s triangle and the great femoral trochanter. A result of one RCT (low quality) indicated that XLGB plus calcitriol had a better effect than calcitriol alone in pain relief (RR=1.26, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.52). There were slight adverse effects mainly including reaction in the digestive system, the circulatory system and the skin. XLGB with good applicability cost 4.58 yuan daily. Conclusion We offer a weak recommendation for alendronate applied to middle-aged and elderly women with primary osteoporosis and pain and fracture caused by primary osteoporosis. We also offer a b recommendation for caltrate D and XLGB applied to middle-aged and elderly women with primary osteoporosis and pain and fracture caused by primary osteoporosis. In addition, we propose that the census on elder people with osteoporosis in rural areas should be carried out. More clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies of large-sample, high-quality on alendronate and its calcium preparation for adult osteoporosis are needed in China.
Objective To evaluate the performance of emergency medical rescue (EMR) within 1 month after Lushan earthquake, and to prove and enrich the experience from Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide useful references for global earthquake EMR with regard to decreasing death and disability rates. Methods All the following date published within 1 month after 4.20 Lushan earthquake were collected and analyzed, including official information, public documents, news release, relevant information from websites and victims’ medical records in the West China Hospital, then the relevant domestic and foreign literature about EMR (including EMR of Wenchuan earthquake). And then comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of EMR in Lushan earthquake. Results a) Being 87 km apart from each other, the main seismic zones of Lushan and Wenchuan located in the south west and middle north of Longmenshan fault zone, respectively. Although only 1 earthquake magnitude differed between them, the disaster area, and the number of affected population, deaths, disappearances, injured, severe injured and migration population in Wenchuan earthquake were 40, 23, 353, 853, 27, 14 and 51 times higher than those in Lushan earthquake, respectively. b) Learned from Wenchuan experience, the manpower scheduling in Lushan earthquake was quicker: the assembled medical personnel peak of Lushan vs. Wenchuan was 87.62% vs. 56.06 % in golden 72 hours post-quake. c) Supplies scheduling was more rational: the utilization rate was higher under the guidance of accurate information of demand. d) Medical treatment was more rational and efficient: the critical injured were treated following “Four concentration treatment principles”; saving life and restoring function at the same time; treatment and physical-mental rehabilitation at the same time; treatment and evidence production and implementation at the same time. e) Medical institutions and service returned to normal in time: 96.7% (440/455) of government owned township medical institutions in 21 affected towns returned to normal and provided medical services at their original sites. Conclusion By learning form Wenchuan experience, the following performance is implemented in Lushan earthquake: medical rescue guided by the accurate information; supplies scheduling guided by the accurate demand; both critical injured treatment,and physical-mental rehabilitation guided by the accurate assessment of injuries. So the medical rescue within 1 month after Lushan earthquake is quicker, more rational and efficient. After 20 days post quake zero death of critical injured was achieved. The early physical-mental rehabilitation fastens the functional reconstruction of the injured and helps them return to the society. So it suggests that the Lushan EMR enriches and develops the reference value of EMR experience of Wenchuan earthquake.
The outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at the end of 2019 was a major public health emergency in human history. In a short period of time, Chinese medical workers have experienced the gradual understanding, evidence accumulation and clinical practice of the unknown virus. So far, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China has issued seven trial versions of the “Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19”. However, it is difficult for clinicians and laymen to quickly and accurately distinguish the similarities and differences among the different versions and locate the key points of the new version. This paper reports a computer-aided intelligent analysis method based on machine learning, which can automatically analyze the similarities and differences of different treatment plans, present the focus of the new version to doctors, reduce the difficulty in interpreting the “diagnosis and treatment plan” for the professional, and help the general public better understand the professional knowledge of medicine. Experimental results show that this method can achieve the topic prediction and matching of the new version of the program text through unsupervised learning of the previous versions of the program topic with an accuracy of 100%. It enables the computer interpretation of “diagnosis and treatment plan” automatically and intelligently.
Objective To evaluate and select essential medicine for children with fever and adult gastrointestinal flu caused by common cold using evidence-based approaches based on the burden of disease for township health centers located in eastern, central and western regions of China. Methods By means of the approaches, criteria, and workflow set up in the second article of this series, we referred to the recommendations of evidence-based or authority guidelines from inside and outside China, collected relevant evidence from domestic clinical studies, and recommended essential medicine based on evidence-based evaluation. Data were analyzed by Review Manager (RevMan) 5.1 and GRADE profiler 3.6 to evaluate quality of evidence. Results (1) 12 guidelines were included, 11 of which were evidence-based or based on expert consensus. We offered a recommendation for medicines used in the treatment including analgesics and antipyretics, decongestants, antihistamines, cough-relieving drug, phlegm-removing drug and drug for gastrointestinal symptoms. (2) A result of four RCTs (very low quality) indicated that in the treatment of children with cold, ibuprofen suspension had an antipyretic effect similar to paracetamol solution (for oral use) with a pooled result of 6-hour efficiency in relieving fever (RR 1.48, 95%CI 0.66 to 3.30, P=0.34). The major adverse effects of ibuprofen suspension included gastrointestinal reaction and profuse sweats (RR=1.23, 95%CI 0.72 to 2.11, P=0.45). With good applicability, ibuprofen suspension (for oral use with no need to be supervised) cost 1.93 yuan daily. (3) A result of three RCTs (low quality) indicated that after given for 30 minutes and one hour, paracetamol solution (suppository) was fairly superior to ibuprofen suspension in lowering the high temperature caused by fever (given for 30 min: MD= –0.16°C, 95%CI –0.21 to –0.11, Plt;0.01; given for one hour: MD= –0.19°C, 95%CI –0.28 to 0.10, Plt;0.01). As to adverse reaction, paracetamol solution (suppository) mainly included anal irritation, skin rashes and profuse sweats, which had a comparative result of incidence with ibuprofen suspension (RR=1.84, 95%CI 0.62 to 5.44, P=0.27). For children with fever, paracetamol solution (suppository) cost 0.90 yuan daily. With good applicability, paracetamol solution (suppository) was administered via the anus. Conclusion (1) We offer a b recommendation for ibuprofen suspension (2 g/100 mL) or acetaminophen (0.1 g/suppository) as symptomatic treatment used in children with fever, pain and discomfort caused by common cold, and for Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Jiao Nang (0.3 g/ capsule) used in adults with gastrointestinal flu. We also offer a weak recommendation for acetylcysteine (injection, 300 mg/mL, 10 mL/ampoule) used in patients with paracetamol poisoning. (2) In order to produce high-quality local evidence, we proposed that large-scale, well-designed, high-quality clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies on ibuprofen suspension and acetaminophen suppository in the treatment of children with fever, pain and discomfort caused by common cold should be further carried out. Besides, we proposed that large-scale, well-designed, high-quality clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies on Chinese patent drugs of Huo Xiang Zheng Qi used in chidren and Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Jiao Nang used in adults should further carried out. Moreover, we suggest that epidemiological investigation as well as clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies of acetylcysteine injection for paracetamol poisoning should be carried out and the instructions of acetylcysteine injection should be added in the guidelines of essential medicine in China. Finally, further studies on evidence of oxymetazoline, dextromethorphan and other Chinese patent drugs with the effect of relieving cough and treating cold should be carried out.
Objective To evaluate and select essential medicine for bone fracture using evidence-based methods based on the burden of disease. Methods By means of the approaches, criteria, and workflow set up in the second article of this series, we referred to the recommendations of evidence-based or authority guidelines from inside and outside China, collected relevant evidence from domestic clinical studies, and recommended essential medicine based on evidence-based evaluation. Data were analyzed by Review Manager (RevMan) 5.1 and GRADE profiler 3.6 to evaluate quality of evidence. Results (1) 17 guidelines were included, six of which were evidence-based or based on expert consensus. We found that for fracture, global guidelines recommended surgical treatment and analgesics, while domestic guidelines recommended Chinese patent drugs. (2) A result of one RCT (low quality) indicated that Shang Ke Jie Gu Pian (name of a Chinese patent drug) shortened the clinical recovery time of fracture (MD=–4.2, 95%CI –5.25 to –3.14). A result of one RCT indicated that Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian had a higher total clinical efficiency compared with San Qi Pian (name of a Chinese patent drug) (RR=1.28, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.47). A result of one RCT (low quality) indicated that Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian (name of a Chinese patent drug) had a better effect than Shenyang Hong Yao Pian (name of a Chinese patent drug) in promoting the growth of osteotylus (RR=1.48, 95%CI 1.27 to 1.73) and also it had a higher clinical recovery rate (RR=1.62, 95%CI 1.37 to 1.9) compared to Shenyang Hong Yao Pian. A result of one RCT (moderate quality) indicated that Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian was slightly better than Die Da Wan (name of Chinese patent drug) in regard to the recovery score of fracture (MD=0.25, 95%CI 0.026 to 0.47). A result of one RCT (low quality) indicated that compared to fracture reduction alone Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian efficiently relieved pain (MD=–25.9, 95% –32.6 to –19.19) and shortened pain time (MD=–38.6, 95% –41.44 to –35.77). A result of one quasi-RCT (low quality) indicated that Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian had a higher efficiency in relieving pain than benorylate (RR=1.13, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.23). A result of one RCT (low quality) indicated that Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian had a higher efficiency than Shenyang Hong Yao Pian in relieving pain and swelling (RR=2.4, 95%CI 1.88 to 3.02). A result of one RCT (moderate quality) indicated that Shang Ke Jiu Ji Pian was superior to Die Da Wan in relieving pain and swelling (MD=–0.4, 95%CI –0.60 to –0.2). A result of two RCT (n=198) indicated that Shang Ke Jie Gu Pian caused no adverse reaction. With good applicability, Shang Ke Jie Gu Pian (taken with warm water or rice wine) cost 7.47 yuan daily. Conclusion (1) We offer a b recommendation for Shang Ke Jie Gu Pian and Jie Gu Qi Li Pian used in the treatment of adult fracture. (2) We should carry out more large-sample and controlled trials and improve outcome indicator in order to produce high-quality local evidence.
Objective To evaluate and select essential medicine for acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) using evidence-based methods based on the burden of disease. Methods By means of the approaches, criteria, and workflow set up in the second article of this series, we referred to the recommendations of evidence-based or authority guidelines from inside and outside China, collected relevant evidence from domestic clinical studies, and recommended essential medicine based on evidence-based evaluation. Data were analyzed by Review Manager (RevMan) 5.1 and GRADE profiler 3.6 to evaluate quality of evidence. Results (1) Five guidelines were included (four foreign guidelines, one domestic guideline; three based on evidence, two based on expert consensus). (2) Medicines recommended at least twice by the National Essential Medicine List (NEML, 2009 version) and Chinese National Formulary (CNF) contained: ipratropium bromide (four times), amoxicillin amp; clavulanate potassium (three times), and corticosteroid (three times), cefuroxime (twice), ciprofloxacin (twice), levofloxacin (twice), salbutamol (twice) and dextromethorphan (twice). (3) As for domestic study evidence, a result of one RCT indicated that amoxicillin amp; clavulanate potassium had efficiencies of 92.3% to 94.7% (n=77, low quality). A result of three RCTs (n=275, low quality) indicated that cefuroxime had efficiencies of 67.6% to 90% and an incidence of 5% as to adverse reaction that mainly included skin rashes, diarrhea, etc. A result of two RCTs (n=120, low quality) indicated that ciprofloxacin had efficiencies of 78.3% to 86.6%, bacterial clearance rates of 72.7% to 86.5% and the incidences of 8.7% to 16.2% as to adverse reaction that mainly included gastrointestinal reaction, skin rashes, etc. A result of seven RCTs (n=523, low quality) indicated that levofloxacin had efficiencies of 72.5% to 94.5%, bacterial clearance rates of 82.1% to 95.8% and the incidences of 5% to 7.5% as to adverse reaction. A result of two RCTs (n=239, low quality) indicated that salbutamol had efficiencies of 85.4% to 96.7%. A result of one RCT (n=95, low quality) indicated that ipratropium bromide had efficiencies of 98%. A result of five RCTs (n=466, low quality) indicated that the combined use of budesonide and bronchodilators had efficiencies of 93.4% to 97.8%. Conclusion (1) We offer a b recommendation for cefuroxime, amoxicillin amp; clavulanate potassium, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin used in the treatment of AECB. (2) We offer a b recommendation for glucocorticoid (budesonide, aerosol) and anticholinergic bronchodilator (ipratropium bromide) and a weak recommendation for short-acting β2-agonist bronchodilator (salbutamol) and antitussive agent (dextromethorphan) for alleviating symptoms due to AECB. (3) We make a recommendation against mucolytic agents and theophylline as routine use. (4) More large-scale, multi-center, double-blinded RCTs are needed in clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies on AECB and outcome indicator should be improved in order to produce high-quality local evidence.
Objective To provide a reference for the exploration to the characteristic specialized subjects in well-off township hospital construction principle, thought and standard through investigating the basic medical units in Shuangliu County. Methods Self-designed questionnaires were made to survey the current situation of characteristic professional subjects in 24 county township medical units comprehensively (i.e. 3 central township hospitals, 3 community health centers, and 18 general township hospitals). Epidate 3.1 was used for data input, SPSS 17.0 was used for descriptive statistics and stratified analysis. Results Fifteen among 24 township hospitals in Shuangliu County set up 21 characteristic specialized subjects, accounted for 62.5%; Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics Subjects were set up in 9 hospitals, accounted for 42.9% ranked as the top; Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Physiotherapy Subjects were set up in 6 hospitals, accounted for 28.6% ranked as the second. Conclusion The characteristic specialized subjects in township hospitals should be established with reasonable planning and construction according to diagnosis and therapy demand for local disease and hospital’s condition, so as to promote characteristic medical services in market competition by subject construction. Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics Subject and Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Physiotherapy Subject are worth to be established and spread as characteristic specialized subject.
Objective To provide baseline datum for further evidence-based selecting essential health technology or essential medicine by comparing the top 15 inpatient diseases in the three pilot township clinics in western China from 2008 to 2010. Methods With the key words as disease spectrum, constitution of disease, inpatient disease category, inpatient diseases and so on, such databases as CBM, CNKI, VIP, WanFang and official websites of Ministry of Health were searched on computer, and the manual search was also conducted in combination to extract the related datum of provinces where the pilot township health centers were situated. The Excel software was used for data classification and analyses. Results (1) Among the 16 included literatures including 15 journal papers and 1 master thesis, 4 scored from zero to 3.5, 9 scored from 3.5 to 6.75, and the left 3 scored 7 or more than 7; (2) The common inpatient diseases in the township health centers in eastern, central and western regions in China were different. The upper respiratory tract infection, acute/chronic bronchitis, acute/chronic gastritis and appendicitis were the common inpatient diseases in the township health centers throughout China. The pneumonia, emphysema, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and acute/chronic gastroenteritis were the common inpatient diseases in the township health centers in southwest and northwest regions. The top 15 inpatient diseases in the three pilot township clinics in this study covered all the common inpatient diseases in the township health centers in southwest and northwest regions in China; (3) The total number of the top 15 inpatient diseases of the three pilot township health centers in western China between 2008 and 2010 was 35, including 20 chronic and 15 acute diseases. The chronic diseases were chronic bronchitis, chronic gastritis, hypertension, lumbar/cervical disease, cholelithiasis or cholecystitis, coronary heart disease, chronic pulmonary heart disease, urinary calculi, pelvic inflammation, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, arthritis, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, Meniere’s disease, chronic obstructive emphysema, myocardial ischemia, prostatitis, etc.. The acute diseases were upper respiratory tract infection, pulmonary infection, fracture, superficial injury, acute appendicitis, acute bronchitis, urinary tract infection, acute gastritis, acute gastroenteritis, delivery amp; cesarean section, soft tissue injury, acute urticaria, etc.; and (4) While the common inpatient disease categories were relatively centralized and stable, but some of them were different in regions, inpatients’ age and sex structure. Conclusion (1) There are some differences in the common inpatient diseases in the township health centers among eastern, central and western regions in China, thus it is necessary to select essential health technology and essential medicine according to local conditions; (2) As a good representation, the common inpatients diseases in the three pilot township health centers in western China can provide the baseline evidence for selecting essential health technology and essential medicine for the township health centers in western China; (3) There are lack of national/regional statistics, survey data and evidence-based research on disease spectrum of the township health centers currently. While the investigation methods or statistics measurements/quality of these included studies are variable without standard regulation; and (4) It suggests that the state and every provinces should implement and improve the statistic analysis of disease spectrum of the township health centers, train staffs and fulfill the construction of information system.