The rising rates of high-risk pregnancies, preterm births, maternal complications, and associated risks have underscored the critical need for care services beyond hospital settings, according to Li Yacen, deputy director of the nursing department at the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

In response to high demand, the hospital launched the "Internet Plus Maternal and Child Care" platform in March 2022. The platform gathers over 300 nurses from this hospital and community hospitals in Hangzhou, providing 16 door-to-door services like neonatal jaundice testing, breast care, and breastfeeding guidance.

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The data of the home care platform is showed by the Women's Hospital on June 19, during a media tour themed "Improving the Medical Experience and Enhancing Patient Satisfaction" organized by the Health Commission of Zhejiang Province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As of May 31, the platform had served 8,176 families with a satisfaction rate of 99.25 percent. It covers all urban areas in Hangzhou, as well as surrounding cities like Jiaxing and Shaoxing.

Collaborating with 15 community hospitals in Hangzhou, the Women's Hospital also conducts training programs for community nurses, offering theory courses, practice videos and training textbooks.

The initiative has reduced family medical expenses by approximately 1.33 million yuan ($183,146.53), with the rate of patients visiting hospital for breast problems decreasing from 32 percent to 8.90 percent.

The children's fever clinic receives a large number of patients throughout the year. To alleviate the issues of long waiting times and difficulty in seeking medical treatment, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou launched an online platform for the intelligent management of children's fever in December 2022.

The platform features a fever warning system. Obtaining children's vital signs and symptom data with a Bluetooth thermometer or manual input, it can remotely monitor body temperature and offer early warnings.

Based on a "fever and accompanying symptoms" standard established by an expert team, the system sets temperature warning ranges in red, orange, and green. Home observation or immediate medical consultation will be suggested in accordance with the colors.

Patients who need to visit the hospital will be included in the red alert range, and then their parents can make an appointment with doctors and conduct pre-consultations on the platform.

The platform had garnered 98,107 registered users by June 26. Approximately 45 percent of children with fevers did not need to go to hospital after their symptoms came under control at home, which reduces unnecessary hospital visits and alleviates anxiety among parents.