For expat parents in China, navigating healthcare with a sick child can be a daunting experience, with language barriers, cultural differences and concerns about unfamiliar medical practices adding to the stress of an already difficult situation.

At Shanghai Children's Medical Center, a dedicated team is working to bridge these gaps, providing world-class pediatric care in a welcoming and culturally sensitive environment.

Recalling his own experiences with his daughter's health, Beecher Ashley-Brown, an Australian living in Shanghai, emphasized the heightened anxiety parents feel when their children fall sick.

"When your child is feeling unwell, you feel much more nervous than you are normally when it's you yourself, because you are not clear about what the problem is, because kids can't communicate how they're feeling as easily as an adult can," Beecher said.

Xiao Bo, chief physician at the hospital, echoes Brown's understanding of the unique needs of his little patients.

"Children have a special growth process and psychological stage. When they arrive at an unfamiliar environment, they may have fear and can't adapt as quickly as adults," he explained.

Recognizing that unfamiliar environments can be intimidating for children, the hospital has gone out of its way to make sure the young folks feel safe and relaxed. For example, medical staff talk with parents to learn about their children's favorite snacks and toys and endeavor to provide them to make the children feel comfortable.

To cater to patients from around the world, the hospital has built a multilingual volunteer network to overcome language hurdles.

"Shanghai, as an international metropolis, has many volunteers who speak less commonly used languages, and we are also able to communicate in all these languages," Xiao said, emphasizing that this capability helps facilitate smoother interactions between medical staff and international patients.

Beecher praised the staff for their patient and welcoming demeanor, as well as their impressive English language skills, highlighting that these qualities played a key role in fostering trust and confidence among both children and their parents.

"I believe it's crucial for both the child and the parents to feel at ease and confident, and this hospital excels in providing that," Beecher stated.

He further emphasized, "The staff, including doctors and nurses, are incredibly patient, calm, and possess excellent English language skills."

Established in 1998, Shanghai Children's Medical Center has steadily grown into a prominent institution for pediatric care, attracting increasing numbers of international patients.

Looking ahead, Xiao envisions the center becoming a world-leading medical institution. "Our goal is to create a medical hub in Asia and even the world," he said.

 

Qian Fengnan and Luo Bin contributed to this story.