On December 22, 2023, the latest research achievement in hospital management by Professor Xiao Haipeng's team at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU), titled "Data-Driven Surgical Performance Measurement and Improvement: An Exploration in an Academic Medical Center in China," was published online in the internationally renowned peer-reviewed journal NEJM Catalyst. This publication is also one of the first three articles sequentially published in the China Special Issue(the teams from FAH-SYSU, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University). This study, for the first time, objectively measures the service capabilities of clinical specialties from a data-driven perspective and proposes targeted suggestions for improvement.

Article link：https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.23.0292

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The measurement and improvement of service capabilities and performance in hospital clinical specialties is a complex and multifaceted topic. Historically, measurements of clinical specialties in China have largely relied on subjective impressions of experts, with a notable lack of quantifiable metrics to objectively and scientifically assess clinical service capabilities, treatment efficiency, and quality safety. Addressing the accuracy of data and measurements, as well as formulating and implementing strategic improvements, remain persistent challenges in the field of medical capability and performance measurement, both internationally and within China.

In January 2022, following China's public hospital performance measurement policies, FAH-SYSU initiated the development of a measurement system for clinical specialties and talent service capabilities. The system was strategized by the hospital's president and secretary, and led by the deputy president in charge. It involved various clinical departments and joint management departments, forming a Clinical + Management MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) working mechanism. To date, the hospital has successfully developed measurement models for both surgical and non-surgical clinical services. Moving forward, the hospital plans to establish a National Public Hospital Performance Measurement Leading Group. Guided by public hospital performance measurement policies and focusing on specialty and talent measurement mechanisms, the hospital aims for comprehensive coverage of surgical, non-surgical, medical technology, and nursing sectors. This approach will enable scientific decision-making regarding resource allocation for clinical specialties, including scale, personnel, and performance.

In this study, Professor Xiao Haipeng's team at FAH-SYSU reports on their efforts in line with the hospital's role as a national medical center for treating complex and severe cases, and its commitment to prioritizing people-centered care. Closely aligning with China's public hospital performance measurement policies, the team utilized internationally recognized healthcare performance measurement and quality management frameworks, along with domestic and international data coding standards. They developed a data-driven surgical performance measurement model, analyzing 267,411 electronic medical records from 2019 to 2022. This analysis facilitated data mining and case studies aimed at enhancing surgical clinical service capabilities, continuously improving medical quality and service efficiency. The study offers valuable insights and benchmarks for the field of specialty performance measurement in Chinese hospitals. It also provides an important example of China's medical reform and innovation to the international community, showcasing FAH-SYSU's research strength and innovative capabilities in hospital management as one of the nation's first high-quality development pilot hospitals.

This project received support from the Hospital Management Center of the National Health Commission as part of the special research project "Measurement of Clinical Specialty Service Capabilities and Physician Practice Abilities in Public Hospitals Based on Real-World Scenarios." It was also granted a Joint Laboratory of Data Modeling for Clinical Specialty and Faculty Assessment. Additionally, the team was authorized by the Planning and Information Department of the National Health Commission to lead the development of the "Standards for the Construction of Clinical Specialty and Talent Service Capability Measurement Systems." Furthermore, the project successfully secured Major Health and Technology Project Funding from the government of Guangzhou.

The National Health Commission's Healthcare Management Center

Authorized the Establishment of a Joint Laboratory

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NEJM Catalyst is a sister platform to one of the world's top four medical journals, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). It was initiated by NEJM with a focus on hospital management. Dedicated to publishing new ideas and practices in the field of hospital management, NEJM Catalyst features articles that represent the cutting-edge management practices and research in the international healthcare industry, continuously published through international peer review. The NEJM Catalyst China Special Issue is committed to amplifying China's voice in the global field of healthcare management. It explores the significant advancements and innovative examples within China's healthcare system under the Healthy China strategy, offering new perspectives and research value to global healthcare management.

NEJM Catalyst China Special Issue Cover