From Zero to Cardiovascular Specialty Leadership: The Spectacular Transformation of a Specialty Hospital

The first coronary angiography, the first PCI surgery, the first dual-chamber pacemaker implantation surgery... A series of "firsts" were born in this specialty hospital located in Xiamen. As the only cardiovascular disease specialty hospital in Fujian Province, the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital (referred to as "XMCH") has developed into the most influential base for the diagnosis and treatment of difficult and severe cardiovascular diseases within the region over 23 years since its establishment in 2001.

Twenty-three years, for the growth of a hospital, is not considered long.

It is also over these 23 years, under the leadership of President Wang Yan, that XMCH has completed its magnificent transformation from nothing to becoming a leader in the field of cardiovascular medicine in China. It has won high recognition from patients, peers, and all sectors of society with its unique "Xiamen Speed."

A set of data is a vivid proof. In the national public hospital performance assessment, its Case Mix Index (CMI) has ranked second in the country in the "other specialized surgery group" for five consecutive years; the hospital completes nearly 20,000 cardiovascular surgeries a year, routinely carrying out various cardiac valve interventional surgeries, artificial heart implantations, emergency surgeries for aortic dissection, and other complex and difficult surgeries, with more than 70% of the patients coming from outside of Xiamen.

Today, XMCH has been recognized as a National Regional Medical Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, and a provincial-level model hospital for high-quality development in public hospitals, entering the "fast lane" of overall development.

In just 23 years, how has this hospital achieved such high-quality development? On March 8, the People's Daily Health Client had an exclusive interview with Wang Yan, the National People's Congress representative and President of Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital Xiamen University.

People's Daily Health Client: You were among the first batch of key talents introduced by Xiamen City, coming from the University of Hong Kong with a PhD. Why did you choose to return to the mainland from Hong Kong? And why did you decide to enter the field of cardiovascular disease?

Wang Yan: In the 1990s, the field of interventional cardiology in our country was almost a blank slate, which was also the initial purpose of my study in Hong Kong. In 1996, Hong Kong had a total of 3,100 interventional surgeries for the whole year, while the vastly more populous mainland had fewer than 3,000 cases, showing great potential for development. In 2001, when I was about to complete my studies at the University of Hong Kong, a great opportunity arose, and I was invited to Xiamen. At that time, the city government, health bureau, and hospital leaders asked me, "Could you come back to Xiamen after graduation? We want to establish a cardiovascular disease specialty hospital. The government is very keen on developing the cardiology field!" After much consideration, and with the support of my mentor, the internationally renowned cardiovascular disease expert Professor Ho Sai Wah, I decided to go to Xiamen. My dream at that time was to establish a strong cardiovascular disease medical center.

The building of Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital

People's Daily Health Client: Since its establishment in 2001, XMCH has become a provincial and national co-constructed National Regional Medical Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, and it is the only cardiovascular disease specialty hospital in Fujian Province. Could you introduce the development of the hospital over these years and what has driven its high-quality development?

Wang Yan: More than 20 years ago, when I first arrived in Xiamen, we were just setting up a cardiology center within a general hospital, with not many doctors. With the development of Xiamen and the strong support of the Xiamen municipal committee and government, our medical, teaching, and research aspects have rapidly developed, achieving a leap from a center to a hospital. At the end of 2014, we officially became an independent institution, becoming the only tertiary cardiovascular disease specialty hospital in Fujian Province.

Technical leadership and innovation are very important for the development of the hospital. In the early years, we completed Xiamen's first coronary angiography surgery, the first PCI surgery, the first dual-chamber pacemaker implantation surgery... With everyone's efforts, many firsts were born here. In recent years, we have introduced dozens of new technologies annually, filling many gaps in Xiamen, Fujian Province, and even in the national and international professional fields, with many technologies reaching international advanced levels. The hospital has also led or participated in the domestic independent research and development of many innovative cardiovascular devices, such as the world's first robotic transcatheter mitral valve minimally invasive surgery we completed at the end of last year, using a robot developed in deep cooperation with medical device companies.

Now, XMCH has also increased its investment in the cardiovascular health industry. Not long ago, it took the lead in forming the Xiamen Cardiovascular Health Industry Technology Innovation Alliance with two universities and ten technological innovation companies, aiming at core technological issues in the cardiovascular health field to accelerate the advancement of key common technologies.

The world's first robotic transcatheter mitral valve minimally invasive surgery was completed at XMCH

People's Daily Health Client: Talent is the foundation of a hospital's establishment. We understand that in recent years, XMCH has made great efforts in talent introduction and training, especially in the introduction of high-level talents. How do you think these medical talents can be "attracted and retained"?

Wang Yan: To improve medical standards, talent is the primary productive force. In recent years, more and more young talents have joined XMCH, including outstanding graduates from well-known institutions such as Peking University Medical College and Peking Union Medical College. From a policy perspective, Fujian Province has provided strong support, offering talents introduced equivalent to the treatment of deputy senior professional titles, as well as very generous research conditions.

For example, there are many public rental houses and expert transit houses in Xiamen. Our hospital actively applies for such housing resources, allowing employees, whether single or with families, to move in at a very favorable price, or even for free, until they buy their own homes and move out. This is an important method to attract talents. In addition, we also provide housing subsidies, with the subsidy amount reaching up to 2 million yuan.

Of course, we also put pressure on young doctors at work, allowing them to grow independently and rapidly in both clinical and research aspects. We have high demands, especially for surgeons, whether in internal medicine or surgery. We are more stringent with them, requiring them to minimize surgical complications as much as possible, winning the respect and trust of the public with solid surgical skills.

People's Daily Health Client: You have repeatedly proposed to develop international medical services. Could you please introduce some of the work XMCH has carried out in recent years to promote the hospital's internationalization process?

Wang Yan: The National Health Commission proposed to develop international medical services a long time ago, but we have not yet truly developed international medical services in the real sense. Many of our hospitals have established international medical departments, mainly serving foreign nationals living in the locality for a long time. The so-called international medical services refer to foreign nationals who come here specifically for physical examinations or treatments as tourists or other reasons.

In September 2022, taking the opportunity of the BRICS "China Year," we initiated the establishment of the "BRICS Cardiovascular Health Innovation Center," receiving active responses from cardiovascular experts from BRICS countries. Starting from 2023, we launched the "Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program," focusing on recruiting young doctors from BRICS and countries along the "Belt and Road" for cardiovascular specialty training, with 15-20 visiting scholars coming to Xiamen for training each year. We already have a good foundation and platform for international exchange, and more and more foreign nationals are coming here for physical examinations and treatments. In the future, we will build an international medical platform to attract more patients from Southeast Asia and the world to come here for medical treatment, allowing our international medical services to cover a wider area.

"Heart Sapling Visiting Scholar Program" visiting scholars interacting with the XMCH medical team

This report is reprinted from People's Daily