On June 10, the Global Health Forum – as part of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia – kicked off in the Qingdao World Expo City. As the first foreign-funded hospital in Shandong Province, the Qingdao United Family Hospital (QDU) was invited as an exhibitor.

On the second day of the exhibition, Ms. Robert Lipson, CEO and Founder of United Family Healthcare, formally signed a contract with Australia’s Icon Group at the signing ceremony for cooperative healthcare projects in Qingdao on behalf of QDU. Moving forward, the two sides will work in-depth on a radiotherapy center project to provide safer and shorter-term solutions for more complex cancer treatments.

The Global Health Forum is an important session of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia, jointly sponsored by the Bo’ao Forum for Asia and the Shandong Provincial Government, and co-undertaken by the Organizing Committee of the Global Health Forum and Qingdao Municipal Government. QDU exhibited for the whole three-day expo as a representative private hospital in Qingdao and Shandong and showcased the high level and the latest development of medical services in Shandong to leadership and delegates of the provincial government of Shandong, the municipal government of Qingdao, the Organizing Committee of the Global Health Forum, and the World Health Organization.

During the exhibition, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms. Jenny Shipley was accompanied by local government officials to the QDU exhibition booth. Mr. Wang Ao, QDU General Manager, introduced the 22-year history of United Family Healthcare in China and its concepts of patient-centered services and evidence-based medicine, showcasing the high level of quality and medical services available in Qingdao and Shandong Province.

Li Baodong , Secretary-General of Bo’ao Forum for Asia, President of Global Health Forum Dr. Margaret Chan Fung Fu-Chun, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms. Jenny Shipley, Vice Governor of Shandong Sun Liye, and Xue Qingguo, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Qingdao at the QDU exhibition booth

Meng Fanli, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Qingdao also accompanied Xian Hui, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee, Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the QDU booth. Mr. Wang Ao shared the history and experiences of the hospital, focusing particularly on introducing the Primary Care/Family Medicine model that his hospital is actively promoting, hoping to bring inspiration to the development of medical care in Ningxia.

Mr. Wang Ao, QDU General Manager, introducing the Primary Care/Family Medicine model to Meng Fanli, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Qingdao and Xian Hui, Deputy Party Secretary, Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Healthy China 2030 policy clearly states that “the training of general practitioners will be the focus of medical education.” United Family Healthcare – the hospital network that QDU is a part of – has already launched an extensive Family Medicine physician training program and has implemented an international medical model – Family Medicine – which is consistent with and a solid implementation of China’s national strategic deployment to develop Primary Care/Family Medicine. In addition to the Family Medicine physician training program, UFH continues to develop other learning and training programs using evidence-based medicine to better train pharmacists to develop a patient-oriented mindset. In 2012, the UFH Center for Disaster and Emergency Medicine Education (CDEME) was established to train Chinese practitioners in emergency medicine according to the highest standard of nursing. The standardized training and learning programs ensure a continuous supply of high-quality medical professionals for UFH.

QDU showcases the development achievement of private hospitals in Qingdao

On-site simulation of the integrated labor-delivery-recovery ward in QDU

The diagnostic couch and the simulated pediatric diagnosis room in QDU

Various medical equipment used in QDU

Founded in Beijing in 1997, United Family Healthcare has been operating in China for 22 years, growing from a tiny maternity clinic with only 36 beds to a model private hospital network consisting of six general hospitals, one specialized hospital and 14 satellite clinics. Starting from its first hospital, UFH has aimed to be a high-end community service hospital. Ms. Robert Lipson, CEO and Founder of UFH, once explained that UFH high-end medical services have three core components: continuous, comprehensive medical services starting with prevention, evidence-based medicine without overtreatment, and an innovative payment mechanism. These three components are the foundation for the UFH to grow and flourish, and ultimately deliver a better medical experience for patients.