Good morning from bustling Shanghai! This morning we headed to the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center near the financial district on the east side of the city. This is a public teaching hospital that opened 20 years ago with about 500 beds total. Because Shanghai is such a densely populated city, the system at this hospital is a bit different than the US. Patients get a ticket number based on their symptoms but the services and prices may differ based on the experience of the doctor as well as the medication provided. There is an information desk which assists the patient to decide what type of doctor they may need based on these symptoms. While the wait time may take several hours and lines may begin in the early hours of the morning, if needed, there is an emergency department but its use incurs a higher fee.
In the Speech Department there are nearly 10 physicians that will see at least 20-30 patients per day. Some of these physicians are local to the Shanghai area but others may be specialists from other hospitals. The Shanghai Children’s Hospital uses a wide assessment battery for evaluation but particularly the DREAM-C. There are 2 full-time speech therapists that focus specifically on therapy. This hospital is very special to Shanghai because it acts as a model for pediatric language development and continues to foster international relationships with institutions such as GWU as well as with ASHA.
Dr. Zhang, the director at the hospital, had a very interesting talk outlining what the hospital is doing to facilitate language and optimize parent and SLP involvement. Dr. Liu identified that SCMC ranks number one in developmental language for pediatrics and created the first language lab in China.
Dr. Mahshie spoke about the research which supports parent involvement for patients with hearing loss. To facilitate early intervention, the hospital utilizes the Hanen Program when putting on parent classes which have at least 40 parents per class.
Our case study was presented by Shayna Greene, Mackenzie Nunnally and Maya Issac. Following the case, we were able to ask the SLPs at the hospital various questions about the field and their experiences. In any given day the SLPs at SCMC will see 6 children for therapy for about 45 minutes of direct therapy and 15 minutes of parent counseling. This was an incredibly eye-opening experience for all us GWU students and professors and we felt lucky to be fostering these relationships with the newly developing SLP community!
After our morning touring and presenting at the hospital, we boarded the bus with our new tour guide, Bella, and headed to lunch by The Bund. Literally meaning “outer beach,” The Bund, or Waitan 外滩, is a street along the waterfront of the Huangpu River in central Shanghai. From various viewing points, you can appreciate the variety of architecture throughout the city. From modern skyscrapers to European influenced buildings from the early 20th century, the city’s architecture mirrors its dynamic history.
With our bellies full and the sun high in the sky we opted to explore the “water town” of Zhujiajiao and saved the Museum of Shanghai for tomorrow. A mix of kitsch and class, Zhujiajiao, also known as “the Venice of Shanghai,” was a charming way to explore a traditional Chinese village. Little shops selling everything from porcelain tea pots and cups to meat on a stick and bubble tea, lined a shallow waterway dotted with traditional gondolas. We wandered through the zig-zagging stone pathways, shaded by willow trees, popping in and out of the shops until those of us with cash on hand had spent all the money we had left.
We boarded the bus again and drove back to Shanghai. After a group dinner, we went back to The Bund to see the city all lit up! Til tomorrow, 晚安 (goodnight)!
GWU SPHR Goes to China 2019 