Yuki Kwok

Exchange Period: 24 July – 21 August 2023

Well-equipped, relying on self-services, and swift are my impressions of the Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University.

The department offered a comprehensive range of examinations, utilizing advanced equipment like corneal topography, OCT machines, and imaging systems, ensuring precise diagnoses and treatments with cutting-edge technology. Patients with specialized needs received accurate care due to the hospital's advanced facilities.

Self-service systems were widely used, from appointment scheduling through Alipay to registration and payments via WeChat Pay or Alipay. Patients managed their visits independently, from testing to report retrieval, streamlining processes and reducing manual tasks for doctors, although this sometimes created confusion.

Despite the efficiency of the system, doctors faced high patient loads, seeing about fifty patients daily. Witnessing various eye surgeries provided valuable insights for future patient interactions regarding ocular health and treatments. This exchange experience was instrumental in broadening my understanding of clinical practices.