When first approaching an unfamiliar hospital, what people fear most is "registering with the wrong department, seeing the wrong specialist and being transferred repeatedly" - which not only wastes time and money but may also delay treatment of the condition.
Under the system of first consultation by the department director, a specialist in the relevant field takes charge of your case from the very first inquiry. At the first consultation, a general practitioner will carry out a systematic assessment, taking a full account of your condition, past history and treatment needs, on the basis of which the international service team will triage you precisely and match you with the most appropriate department director. This model ensures that at your first consultation you receive treatment advice at chief physician level, reducing the time cost added by transfers and laying a foundation for developing the subsequent treatment plan.
Service Process for First Consultation by the Department Director
Submit your case records
fill in your basic information and provide your medical records, examination reports and other materials
Initial assessment by a general practitioner
initial analysis based on your case records to match a suitable department and specialist
Remote consultation with the department director
online consultation, with an in-depth interpretation of your condition and an initial treatment direction
Issue of a written treatment plan
a complete written treatment plan provided within 24 hours
Consultation in person with the department director after arrival
seen in person by the same department director or a specialist from the same team
Development of an individualized treatment plan
the director leads the treatment decisions, and for complex cases an MDT multidisciplinary consultation may be initiated
*Description of services
Initial assessment by a general practitioner
after you submit your records, a general practitioner with extensive clinical experience will analyze your case records and determine the suitable department, avoiding repeated transfers between departments caused by incomplete information or inaccurate triage.
Remote consultation with the department director
if you would like to speak with a specialist before coming to the hospital, a remote consultation can be arranged with the director of the relevant department. The director will interpret your condition in the light of your case records and give an initial direction for diagnosis and treatment, helping you form a basic expectation of the treatment plan before your visit.
Issue of a written treatment plan
within 24 hours of the end of the remote consultation, you will be provided with a complete written treatment plan setting out the subsequent examinations, the treatment pathway, the estimated length of stay and a cost reference, so that you have a clear basis for judgement before deciding to come to the hospital.
Consultation in person with the department director
after you arrive at the hospital, the first consultation is conducted in person by a specialist holding the title of chief physician/associate chief physician or above, who takes part throughout in the consultation, physical examination and reading of images, with no "stand-in consultation", ensuring that you receive an authoritative diagnostic opinion on your first visit.
MDT joint consultation for difficult cases
if your condition is relatively complex and involves several disciplines, the director seeing you may initiate a multidisciplinary consultation (MDT), bringing together specialists from the relevant fields to assess your case jointly and develop a comprehensive treatment plan for you.
Health records and closed-loop management
the director who sees you at the first consultation will follow up your treatment progress and subsequent follow-up visits throughout, and will create a personal health record kept long-term for you, ensuring continuity and consistency in your treatment plan.
*Materials advised to be prepared in advance
To help the general practitioner and the department director assess your condition more efficiently and accurately, you are advised to prepare the following materials (if available) when submitting your inquiry
Previous medical records
Examination reports
A list of the medication you are currently taking
If you do not have the above materials for the time being, there is no need to worry - you can submit the inquiry form directly and the international service team will contact you about the next steps.
Appointment Form
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is first consultation by the department director? How does it differ from ordinary registration?
With ordinary registration, you may be seen by doctors of different titles such as resident or attending physicians; first consultation by the department director ensures that from the inquiry stage onwards you are followed up by a specialist holding the title of chief physician/associate chief physician or above in person, or by a specialist from the same team, reducing the time cost and loss in communication caused by successive transfers.
2. Why do I need to be assessed by a general practitioner first? Will I have to describe my condition twice and waste time?
No. The general practitioner's initial assessment is intended to give a systematic account of your case records and avoid inaccurate triage caused by missing information; this information is passed on to the director who sees you, so you do not need to repeat yourself at different stages.
3. Can I choose the department director for my first consultation myself?
Yes. If you already have a particular specialist in mind, you may note the name of the director you wish to book when submitting your treatment request, and we will give priority to arranging this; if you have no particular preference for the time being, the international service team will match you with the most suitable specialist based on the results of your consultation.
4. Is there an extra charge for the first consultation service?
No. First consultation by the department director is a standard model of care that our hospital provides for patients; no extra designation fee is charged and charges are made only according to the hospital's standard treatment charging rates.
5. If my condition involves several departments, how will it be arranged?
After assessment, if the director seeing you judges that your condition involves several disciplines, they will initiate an MDT multidisciplinary consultation, inviting specialists from the relevant fields to assess your case jointly and develop a comprehensive treatment plan for you, so that you need not go from department to department registering repeatedly.
6. Can the first consultation be carried out online or by video?
Yes. If you are unable to come to the hospital for the time being, you can first complete an initial consultation with a general practitioner online, and the department director may also arrange video communication depending on your condition, with a detailed face-to-face consultation and the relevant examinations carried out after you arrive.
7. For follow-up visits after the first consultation, will I still be seen by the same director?
Yes. To ensure continuity in the treatment plan, the director from your first consultation will follow up your subsequent visits and treatment throughout, ensuring that treatment decisions remain consistent and avoiding repeated examinations or changes of plan.
8. Roughly how long does the whole first consultation process take?
From submitting your treatment request to completing the general practice consultation and precise triage, the initial assessment is usually completed within one working day; the time of your consultation with the department director will depend on their clinic schedule and will be confirmed with you in advance by the international service team, ensuring an efficient transition once you arrive.