China Daily Global Edition (USA)
New Century Healthcare sets up forums for medical professionals in remote areas
Beijing.
Two women were acting onstage. One sat on a childbirth stool, shouting out broken words in imaginary birth pangs. The other was giving directions and encouraging the new mother.
The audience, packing out the room of about 300 seats, watched attentively, and broke into laughter from time to time.
However, the scene was acted neither at a theater nor during a play.
Instead, the two women were medical professionals demonstrating how to adjust childbirth positions and breathing to ease the delivery.
The audience members were obstetricians, midwives and nurses receiving training at a upright labor position seminar, as part of a safe childbirth forum held from July 28 to Aug 1. Most of them were from community and county-level hospitals in and around Beijing.
“It is crucial for medical professionals to update their Fan Ling, knowledge in order to provide quality healthcare services. But it is not easy for medical professionals in remote and small places to do that,” said Fan Ling, chief medical officer of New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The institution organized the forum and is an affiliate of Hong Kong-listed private pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecological healthcare provider New Century Healthcare.
“We held the forum to offer medical professionals in small and remote places a glimpse of what’s happening on the national and international medical scene, and to encourage them to keep up with the newest knowledge and practices,” Fan said.
At the forum, top Chinese obstetricians were invited to give lectures on advanced ideas and practices in obstetric healthcare, and to hold seminars on the most urgent issues in the field, such as scientific breastfeeding, midwifery shortages and cesarean section births.
The upright labor position seminar was led by German midwife and educator Monika Boenigk, who invented a birth seat for upright birthing in the 1990s after years of experience and observation in the labor room.
New Century Healthcare has invited Boenigk to deliver speeches and host seminars on upright birthing for the past three years at locations around China. She spoke highly of Chinese medical professionals’ passion to learn.
Fan, a prominent obstetrician in China, also lectured on medical risks and solutions related with vaginal birth after cesarean.
The majority of Chinese women trying for a second child are older than 35 or have experienced cesarean delivery, which increases medical risks during their second pregnancy and childbirth, especially when the mother-to-be wants to have a natural delivery, Fan said.
“The medical team must make decisions balancing the benefits and risks for patients, and a quick and correct response in a medical emergency saves lives,” Fan said.
It is crucial for medical professionals to update their knowledge in order to provide quality healthcare services. But it is not easy for medical professionals in remote and small places to do that.” chief medical officer of New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital