Department of Nephrology Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine

Overview

The Department of Nephrology at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (GDHCM) commenced its clinical management of kidney diseases in the 1960s. In 1994, the Department of Nephrology was officially established and concurrently recognized as one of the first key specialties by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM). It was among the earliest five key departments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for kidney diseases nationwide. It also leads a consortium of 30 hospitals in formulating diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, as well as clinical pathways (CPs), for chronic renal failure. During the "Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-2005)" period, it was acknowledged as the only outstanding key specialty for TCM nephrology nationwide. In the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-2017)" period, it was selected as one of the leading center focusing on chronic kidney failure and hematuira research, by the NATCM. In 2008, it became the national clinical research base of Chinese medicine for chronic kidney diseases. In 2018, it was chosen as one of the leading centers for the national collaborative project on major difficult diseases with integrative Chinese and Western medicine. Additionally, it became a regional TCM diagnosis and treatment center (South China · Nephrology) in the same year. Over the five decades of development, it has continued to enrich its diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, develop and flourish . It has established itself as a prominent department of nephrology, characterized by evidence-based TCM features and national excellence. The Department of Nephrology currently consists of four inpatients wards (including three in different area of Guanagzhou city and one in Zhuhai city) with a total capacity of 141 beds. There are five hemodialysis units equipped with 185 machines, two specialized nephrology outpatients, one chronic disease management clinic, one nephrology research team, and one research laboratory (covering an area of 1200m²). The total value of specialized equipment exceeds 40 million RMB. The annual number of inpatients discharge from our department exceeds 6,500 with 138,000 outpatient visits annually. The number of dialysis procedures conducted exceeds 80,000 per year, providing medical services to over 200,000 patients annually. From 2018 to 2021, it was recognized as one of the top research-oriented specialized departments for nephrology in Hospitals of Chinese Medicine by "Ailibi." Moreover, from 2017 to 2021, it was selected as one of the strongest comprehensive strength of nephrology departments in Guangdong hospitals by "Ailibi."

Staffs and personnel

Currently, the department has a total of 207 professional staff members, including 63 doctors (11 professors, 12 associate professors, 20 lecturers), 8 doctoral supervisors, and 15 master's supervisors.

The department has two nationally renowned TCM practitioners in China and three famous TCM practitioners in Guangdong Province. It has successfully completed mentoring for 10 scholars. Eleven doctors of our department have learnt from famous TCM masters and one of them has been honored with the title of Outstanding Young and Middle-aged TCM Practitioner by China Academy of Chinese Medical Science.

Features of the deparment

The department of nephrology has consistently devoted itself to both clinical practice and research to retard the progression of chronic kidney disease with integrated Chinese medicine and modern medicine. We align our best clinical practice in accordance with classical TCM theories and the rich experiences from four renowned TCM master studios (Zhang Qi, Zhang Daning, Huang Chunlin, and Yang Nizhi). In addition, the department of nephrology continues to make new discoveries and innovate therapeutic approach of Chinese medicine for patients with kidney disease. Currently, the department has developed more than 10 in-house preparations, including Sanqi Oral Solution, Hematuria Formula, Niaodukang Granules, Colon Lavage Solution No. 1 and No. 2. We also are investigating the action mechanism of these preparation.

In 2009, we established the first chronic disease management clinic of Chinese medicine in China which provide patients education, provide multi-discipline management and regular long-term follow-up of patients with chronic kidney disease. The number of patients currently under management exceeds 6,000. The specialty has hosted 11 international and domestic conferences on chronic disease management.

Research Achievements

Since 2008, the department of nephrology has a total of 22 national-level research projects as the principal investigator, funded by national key research and development programs, national science and technology committee, and national TCM research projects. Additionally, it has led 38 research projects by provincial government or the ministry of China, with a total research funding of over 40 million RMB. The department of nephrology has led the development of five group standards and local standards, including the first local standard on health education in Guangdong Province and the first kidney disease standard in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It has received one first prize and two third prizes for scientific and technological progress in Guangdong Province, as well as one first prize and one second prize from the China Association of Chinese Medicine and the China Association of Integrative Medicine. Moreover, the department of nephrology has obtained 12 national patents, including one from Japan and the United States, four of which have been assigned to company and become product in the market. It has published over 120 papers in international peer-reviewed SCI top journals including Nature Reviews Nephrology, Kidney international, Cochrane systematic review database, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (IF: 14.978), American Journal of Kidney Disease, Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology, more than 150 papers in key Chinese journals, and has edited 17 academic monographs, one textbook as the chief editor, and four national textbooks as co-editors.

Academic impacts

The department of nephrology has been served as executive president of the several academic organizations including Nephrology Branch of China Medical Association of Minorities, China Federation of Kidney Disease with Chinese medicine, China Federation of Hemodialysis with Chinese medicine, China Federation of Traditional Techniques for Kidney Disease, Guangdong Federation of Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis with Chinese medicine, with 150 member institutions.

It is also designated as the training center for the "Chronic Kidney Disease Management by the National Health Commission. Furthermore, it serves as the clinical and research base for TCM prevention and treatment of hemodialysis complications designated by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the training base for hemodialysis in Guangdong Province, the training base for chronic disease management by the Guangdong Association of Chinese Medicine, and one of the first training bases for peritoneal dialysis specialist nurses by the Guangdong Provincial Association of Nursing.

The department has also established cooperation with over ten hospitals in China. Our team regularly assigns specialists to these cooperative hospitals to provide medical consultations, and have also signed agreement with five institutions to establish the Distinguished Expert Tutorial Program. Besides, we also engage actively in international academic cooperation, and have developed long-term cooperative relationships with academic institutions in USA, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Belarus, Hongkong and Taiwan.