The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: The “Guardian of Health” at the National Center for Respiratory Medicine

I. Hospital Profile

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (abbreviated as “Guangzhou First Hospital”) is a Grade A tertiary general hospital directly under the National Health Commission and affiliated with Guangzhou Medical University. Renowned nationwide as a research-oriented institution with core specialties in “respiratory disease prevention and treatment, critical care medicine, and comprehensive cancer therapy,” it is hailed as the “Cradle of Chinese Respiratory Medicine.” The hospital's origins trace back to the Guangzhou Workers' Hospital, established in 1951. It was renamed “Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College” in 1958. In 2004, it adopted its current name, Guangzhou Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, following the renaming of Guangzhou Medical University. In 2013, it became the designated institution for the National Clinical Research Center (Respiratory Diseases). In 2021, it was selected as a core hospital for the National Regional Medical Center (South China) initiative. Today, it stands as one of the most influential medical institutions in South China, renowned for its leading expertise in respiratory disease diagnosis and treatment.

The hospital now operates under a “one hospital, four campuses” structure: the Riverside Campus (main campus) is located in the core area of Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, while the Haiyin Campus (comprehensive medical services), Liwan Campus (geriatrics and rehabilitation), and Baiyunshan Campus (research and teaching) develop synergistically. The hospital offers over 3,000 inpatient beds, handles more than 6 million outpatient and emergency visits annually (with its respiratory outpatient volume ranking first nationally for 10 consecutive years), discharges over 120,000 patients yearly, and performs more than 30,000 surgeries annually (over 50% being complex Grade III and IV procedures). Its specialty services in respiratory diseases, critical care medicine, and lung cancer diagnosis and treatment rank among the nation's top.

The hospital employs over 5,000 staff members, including more than 800 senior-level experts. These include top scholars such as academicians holding dual appointments, recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Changjiang Scholars, as well as leading figures in their fields, such as the Chair of the Respiratory Disease Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the President of the Critical Care Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. The team has collectively received 15 national awards, including the National Science and Technology Progress Award and the Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize. It has spearheaded the development of over 30 national standards, such as the Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and the Chinese Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screening and Management. The team has also led more than 200 national-level research projects, including key R&D initiatives under the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plans. It ranks among the top five global institutions in respiratory medicine for both scientific output and clinical impact.

II. Hospital Technical Advantages: Leading in Respiratory Medicine, Collaborative Innovation in Critical Care and Oncology

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine upholds the core mission of “resolving complex respiratory conditions and advancing medical progress.” It has established nationally leading technical strengths in precision diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases, critical care medicine, comprehensive cancer therapy, and minimally invasive surgery:

1. Respiratory Diseases: The “Chinese Standard” for Global Diagnosis and Treatment

• The Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) is a National Key Clinical Specialty and the primary unit of the National Center for Respiratory Medicine, handling over 2 million outpatient visits annually with a 95% standardized management rate for common conditions like COPD, asthma, and lung cancer;

• Pioneered cutting-edge techniques including “bronchial thermoplasty (BT)” for severe asthma and “cryopneumobiopsy (CBLB)” for diagnosing interstitial lung diseases, achieving a 98% surgical success rate;

• Equipped with globally advanced technologies such as “electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB)”, “fluorescence bronchoscopy”, and High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV) to achieve precise localization of pulmonary nodules (error <2mm) and targeted ventilation for critically ill patients;

• Led the “China Lung Cancer Early Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Project,” establishing a “Low-Dose Spiral CT (LDCT) + AI-Assisted Diagnosis” screening system that boosted early lung cancer detection rates to 85% (compared to the international average of 60%).

2. Critical Care Medicine: The Lifeline Fortress on the Brink of Life and Death

• The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) operates over 150 beds, equipped with world-leading ECMO machines (20 units), high-frequency ventilators (50 units), and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machines (30 units);

• Established an end-to-end treatment chain for “respiratory failure-ARDS-multiple organ dysfunction,” reducing mechanical ventilation duration for ARDS patients to 7 days (global average: 10 days) and achieving an ECMO success rate exceeding 60% (global average: 50%);

• Pioneered a precision assessment system integrating critical care ultrasound, hemodynamic monitoring, and AI-driven early warning, achieving a sepsis rescue success rate exceeding 75% (compared to the international average of 60%).

3. Comprehensive Cancer Treatment: A Hub of Innovation in Full-Cycle Management

• The Cancer Center treats over 20,000 patients annually, offering comprehensive therapies including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Annual Da Vinci robotic surgeries exceed 200 cases (Thoracic Surgery, Urology).

• The Radiation Oncology Department is equipped with the world's most advanced technologies: Tomotherapy (TOMO) and CyberKnife, enabling precision radiation targeting for lung tumors (with an error margin <1mm);

• The department leads the clinical trial “Liquid Biopsy (ctDNA)-Guided Personalized Treatment for Lung Cancer,” achieving a 30% increase in targeted therapy efficacy and maintaining a nationally leading clinical application rate for post-drug-resistance solutions.

4. Minimally Invasive Surgery: A “South China Model” in Laparoscopy and Robotics

• Thoracic Surgery performs single-port thoracoscopic lung cancer resection and minimally invasive esophageal cancer surgery (over 90% minimally invasive rate), reducing postoperative pain scores by 50%;

• Urology performs percutaneous nephrolithotomy and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, achieving an over 95% success rate in complex cases;

• General Surgery performs laparoscopic gastrectomy/colorectal cancer resection (over 85% minimally invasive rate), achieving a 5-year survival rate exceeding 70% for gastrointestinal tumors (national average: 60%).

5. Cardiovascular Diseases: Precision Interventional “Technical Benchmark”

• Cardiology Department performs over 5,000 interventional procedures annually, including complex coronary interventions (left main lesions, chronic total occlusions), arrhythmia management (atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation), and structural heart disease treatments (TAVI);

• Equipped with a tri-modal imaging system combining Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) for precise coronary lesion assessment;

• Performs over 100 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures annually (ranking among the top three in South China), with a surgical mortality rate below 1% (compared to the international standard of 2%).

III. Hospital Strengths: Leading National Key Disciplines with Multiple International Accreditations

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine boasts 7 National Key Clinical Specialties (Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Surgery, Oncology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Urology, Anesthesiology) and 15 Guangdong Provincial Key Clinical Specialties (Neurology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, etc.), forming a disciplinary system characterized by “strong core specialties and comprehensive supporting disciplines”:

• Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: Ranked No. 1 nationally for 15 consecutive years in Fudan University's China Hospital Specialty Rankings; serves as the primary unit of the National Respiratory Medicine Center; spearheaded the development of China's Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Construction and Management Guidelines;

• Critical Care Medicine: Serves as the South China branch of the National Critical Care Quality Control Center, leads the National Key R&D Program “Precision Treatment for Sepsis” under the 14th Five-Year Plan, and ranks among the top three nationally in ECMO treatment cases;

• Thoracic Surgery: Designated as the National Cancer Center Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Demonstration Center, leads the South China Thoracic Surgery Alliance, and performs the highest number of single-port thoracoscopic surgeries nationwide;

• Oncology Department: Leading institution of the South China Precision Cancer Treatment Alliance, implementing multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultations for over 90% of cases, with nationally leading efficacy rates in targeted lung cancer therapy;

• Cardiology Department: National Key Clinical Specialty, South China Branch of the National Quality Control Center for Interventional Coronary Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, performing over 2,000 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) annually;

• Urology: National Key Clinical Specialty, achieving nationally leading standards in treating complex conditions like prostate cancer and bladder cancer; ranks among the top three in South China for robotic-assisted surgeries.

IV. Departmental Structure: Comprehensive Health Management Covering All Population Needs

Beyond its flagship specialties, the hospital maintains a complete departmental structure encompassing Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, etc.), Surgery (General Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, etc.), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Stomatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, Oncology, and more than 50 other clinical departments. Additionally, over 10 medical technology platforms—including the Pathology Center, Imaging Center, Laboratory Medicine Center, and Blood Transfusion Department—provide comprehensive medical services spanning prevention, diagnosis, and rehabilitation.

V. Medical Equipment: World-Class Technology Enabling Precision Diagnosis and Treatment

The hospital is equipped with globally leading medical devices to support precise diagnosis and treatment of complex and critical conditions:

• Respiratory and Critical Care Equipment: Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscope (ENB), High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV) machines, ECMO (20 units), High-Frequency Ventilators (50 units), Pulmonary Function Testers (German Jaeger MasterScreen);

• Surgical Robots: Da Vinci Xi Surgical System (4 units), Surgical Sharp Single-Port Laparoscopic Robot (1 unit), supporting complex thoracic, urological, and gynecological endoscopic surgeries;

• Imaging Diagnostics: GE SIGNA PET/MR (South China's first), 3.0T Prisma MRI, Dual-Source CT, Digital Flat Panel Gastrointestinal Machine;

• Cancer Treatment Equipment: Tomotherapy (TOMO) System, CyberKnife System, Radiofrequency Ablation System;

• Endoscopy and Pathology Equipment: Olympus 290 Electronic Bronchoscope (with fluorescence capability), Zeiss Lumera Microscope, Digital Pathology Slide Scanning System.

VI. International Patient Services: Comprehensive Bilingual Support for a Global Healthcare Experience

As a leading institution for international medical services in South China, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine offers international patients seamless, one-stop services:

• Language Services: Multilingual medical staff (English, Japanese, Korean, Arabic) and specialized medical translators (covering respiratory medicine, critical care, and other specialized terminology) available throughout consultations, examinations, and surgeries;

• International Medical Department: Dedicated area featuring premium outpatient clinics (by appointment) and VIP wards (including private rooms and suites), with direct billing for international insurance (covering over 60 major insurers from the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, and beyond);

• Convenience Services: Visa extension assistance, multilingual patient guides (including department layouts and examination instructions), customized religious dietary options (halal, kosher, vegetarian, etc.), cross-border dedicated transportation (via partnered international medical transport agencies);

• Remote Consultations: Collaborates with world-leading institutions, including Johns Hopkins Hospital (USA), Imperial College Hospital (UK), and Tokyo Women's Medical University (Japan) to facilitate cross-border remote case discussions and second medical opinions.

VII. International Patient Testimonials: “Technical Excellence, Warm Service”

• Mr. Robert (62, COPD, California, USA): “I heard about the Respiratory Department at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Harvard Medical School—it truly lives up to its reputation! Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy precisely located my small nodule. The doctor thoroughly explained the treatment plan in English, and my postoperative recovery has been excellent!”

• Ms. Lin (45, lung cancer, Singapore): “The Tumor Center developed a personalized ‘targeted therapy + immunotherapy’ plan for me. My tumor has shrunk by 60%! The International Medical Department's translator resolved my communication challenges—truly thoughtful.”

• Mr. Surya (58, severe pneumonia), Jakarta, Indonesia: “Thanks to ECMO treatment, I was transferred from the ICU to a regular ward after just 10 days. Nurses taught me breathing exercises in English daily—now my breathing is much smoother!”

VIII. Contact Information, Address, and Transportation Routes

1. Riverside Campus (Main Campus)

• Address: 151 Yanjiang West Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (near Aiguan Building)

• Contact: 020-83062114 (Main Switchboard); International Medical Department: 020-83062200

Transportation Routes:

• Subway: Exit A at “Tuan Yi Da Square Station” (Line 6), 8-minute walk;

• Bus: “Yanjiang West Road Station” (B21, B8, 219, 287, etc.);

• Driving: Underground parking available (fee applies). Navigate to “The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yanjiang Campus”.

2. Haiyin Campus

• Address: 33 Dongxiao Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (near Haiyin Bridge)

• Contact: 020-89331200 (Main Switchboard)

• Transportation: Exit B at Dongxiao South Station (Metro Line 2), 10-minute walk; Bus “Haiyin Bridge South Station” (B5, B21, 86, 180, etc.).

3. Liwan Campus (Geriatrics & Rehabilitation)

• Address: 822 Longjin East Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou (near Chen Family Temple)

• Contact: 020-81812120 (Main Switchboard)

• Directions: Exit D from Chenjia Temple Station (Metro Line 1), 5-minute walk; Bus Stop: Chenjia Temple Station (Routes 268, 541, 542, etc.).

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine steadfastly upholds its motto: “Health is our mission; lives are our trust.” Leveraging cutting-edge respiratory disease diagnostics and treatment, an internationalized service system, and precision care for complex and critical conditions, we consistently deliver high-quality, compassionate medical services to patients worldwide. We are committed to advancing the development of “Healthy China” and “Healthy Bay Area.”

Document dated 2025-09-12 09:29 Modify