Compassionate patient care

Joint venture with Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital is a rewarding experience

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Loma Linda University are clearly identified on the main entrance to the hospital. Approximately 1,000 individuals are employed at the hospital

Loma Linda University and Medical Center have helped make a dream come true for Chinese philanthropist Sir Run Run Shaw.

Sir Run Run Shaw, a Hong Kong film magnate who is now in his mid-90s, had a dream of building a Western-style hospital in his native Zhejian Province in the People's Republic of China.

Because of his deep love for people of his province, Sir Run Run Shaw provided partial funding to the Zhejian Provincial Government for the construction of a hospital in its capital of Hangzhou. His only request was that he wanted to partner with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in operating the hospital.

"Sir Run Run Shaw became acquainted with the Adventist health-care system many years ago when his mother was treated at an Adventist hospital by Dr. Harry Miller, one of the first Seventh-day Adventist physicians to work in China," says Joan Coggin, MD, MPH, vice president for global outreach, Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center. "He never forgot the excellent care that his mother received from Dr. Miller."

Years later, when Sir Run Run Shaw decided to build a hospital, he asked the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Loma Linda University and Medical Center to become involved in the planning and implementation of the Chinese hospital.

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital is a 400-bed hospital that provides Western-style services in essentially all of the medical specialties that are practiced in the United States. The hospital employs approximately 1,000 individuals.

The 400-bed Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital officially opened on May 2, 1994. At times, the bed occupancy at the hospital is 100 to 105 percent.

Serving as president of the hospital which officially opened on May 2, 1994, is G. Gordon Hadley, MD, dean emeritus of the School of Medicine. A 1944 School of Medicine graduate, Dr. Hadley has been on Loma Linda's faculty since 1946. In addition, he has taught pathology in India and Afghanistan. (See story on Loma Linda's partnering with Afghanistan, "Where were you when?")

"Working in China has been a most rewarding experience," Dr. Hadley relates. "We started at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital largely having to train young people right out of medical and nursing schools. In China, it is pretty difficult to transfer or hire individuals from other hospitals. So we've had a great experience training these wonderful young people."

Working with Dr. Hadley at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital is a group of approximately 20 overseas faculty--many from Loma Linda.

"One of our goals is to witness compassionate patient care," he explains. "We have enlisted the enthusiasm of many of the young Chinese physicians, nurses, and other health-care providers to practice the best medicine possible."

Has Loma Linda made a difference in its partnership with Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital? Dr. Hadley thinks so.

"On the hospital in China are big Chinese letters as well as a Roman script that say 'Zhejiang Medical University' and 'Loma Linda University.' Nearly everyone in the city knows about Loma Linda."

In the early stages of the partnership between Loma Linda and Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, the overseas faculty and staff worked alongside their Chinese counterparts. "Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital is flourishing," Dr. Coggin says. "At times, the bed occupancy at the hospital is 100 to 105 percent. This means that patients may be held in holding areas until rooms are available later in the day."

The hospital has gained a reputation for excellence in the city of Hangzhou and the surrounding area. "Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital has a reputation for its spirit of compassionate service, efficiency, and cleanliness," Dr. Coggin relates.

The initial five-year agreement between Loma Linda University, Zhejiang Medical University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, and Zhejian Provincial Government was completed in May, 1999.

"Our agreement was extended for two years," Dr. Coggin says. "But even after the agreement is completed in 2001, we plan to have a long-range working relationship with Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital by providing continuing education for the staff, and will serve in an advisory and consulting capacity.

"This has been and continues to be a very rewarding experience for all of the participants," Dr. Coggin says.

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