Complete Step-by-Step Medical Visit Process at Chinese Hospitals

# Complete Medical Visit Process at Public Hospitals in China (Organized by Outpatient, Emergency, and Inpatient Care — Including Medical Insurance Procedures)

I. Essential Pre-Visit Preparations

Required Identification Documents (Mandatory Real-Name Registration)

• Basic requirement: Patient’s original ID card; insured individuals must also bring their social security card / electronic medical insurance credential (available via WeChat or Alipay)

• Children: Household registration booklet (hukou) and guardian’s ID card

• Foreign nationals: Passport or Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong/Macau Residents

• International patients: Must schedule appointments in advance and successfully register; those requiring hospital-assisted tourist visa support must contact the hospital ahead of time

• Follow-up visits: Bring prior medical records, CT/MRI films, laboratory test reports, current medications, and documented allergy history

Pre-Examination Preparation

• Blood tests and abdominal ultrasound: Fast for 8–12 hours (skip breakfast; minimal water intake)

• Urinary tract or gynecological ultrasound: Drink large amounts of water and hold urine until bladder is full

• Gastroscopy or colonoscopy: Follow physician instructions for bowel preparation and discontinue anticoagulant medications in advance

Registration Channels (Online Appointment Strongly Recommended to Minimize Queuing)

Online Appointment (Recommended)

Hospital official WeChat account / mini-program, hospital mobile app, Alipay Health Services, National Medical Insurance Service Platform, or 12320 appointment hotline; allows booking 7–14 days in advance and supports online medical insurance settlement

On-Site Registration

Outpatient service windows or in-hospital self-service kiosks; suitable for elderly patients or those without smartphones
Foreign patients must present original passport at the window for foreigner information entry and issuance of an in-hospital medical ID card; some hospitals’ self-service kiosks offer English-language interface—inserting the passport automatically creates a patient profile.

Emergency Green Channel

For shock, massive hemorrhage, acute myocardial infarction, acute ischemic stroke, severe trauma, or coma: proceed directly to the Emergency Department—treatment precedes payment, no registration or queuing required; triage nurses assign priority based on clinical severity (critical cases treated first)

II. Full Outpatient Visit Process (Used for ~90% of Routine Consultations)

Step 1: Initial Patient Registration (One-Time Only)

Present ID card / social security card at a self-service kiosk or service window to obtain an electronic health card / medical ID card and complete personal information entry; online registrants may complete this step digitally—no in-person card issuance required

Step 2: Registration (Critical Step for Medical Insurance Eligibility)

• Insured patients: Select the medical insurance registration channel during appointment booking; present social security card / electronic medical insurance QR code—the system automatically deducts reimbursable portions, leaving only the patient’s co-payment due. Choosing the self-pay channel by mistake requires manual reimbursement later—a cumbersome process.

• Select appropriate department: e.g., headache → Neurology; cough → Respiratory Medicine; gastric pain → Gastroenterology; trauma → Orthopedics; women’s health → Gynecology; pediatric concerns → Pediatrics

• Obtain printed or electronic registration slip indicating clinic floor, consultation room number, and waiting sequence number

• If uncertain about department selection, consult bilingual guidance desks

Step 3: Departmental Triage & Check-In (Mandatory—Failure to Check-In Results in No Call-Up)

Upon arrival at the designated floor’s waiting area, check in via self-service kiosk or QR code scan; online registrants must check in 10–15 minutes prior to scheduled time—only after check-in does the patient enter the call-up queue; missing one’s turn requires re-check-in and re-entry into the queue

Step 4: Waiting & Face-to-Face Consultation (One Physician, One Patient, One Private Room)

Monitor electronic display boards and audio announcements for call-up; bring all diagnostic materials

Clearly describe symptoms: onset time, nature of symptoms, location and duration of pain, past medical history, drug allergies, and currently prescribed medications

Cooperate with physical examination (e.g., blood pressure measurement, auscultation, palpation); physician issues test requisitions / prescriptions / hospital admission certificates

Step 5: Payment (Online or Self-Service Kiosk Is Fastest)

Payment channels: Scan QR code via hospital WeChat account, self-service kiosk, or cashier window

• Insured patients: Use medical insurance credential throughout—system performs real-time basic insurance settlement; patient pays only out-of-pocket portion

• Retain printed receipt and/or electronic payment confirmation for report collection, medication pickup, and reimbursement claims

• International commercial insurance: Present insurance card at the International Department for direct billing; standard outpatient services require full self-payment—retain all receipts for subsequent claims

Step 6: Ancillary Examinations (Laboratory, Imaging, Functional Tests)

Proceed to respective departments (e.g., Clinical Laboratory, Radiology Department, Ultrasound Unit, Electrocardiogram Lab) with paid examination slips

Complete examinations as instructed; note report collection timing (blood tests typically ready in 2–4 hours; CT/MRI reports available same-day or next morning)

Print paper reports using self-service printers; store imaging films securely

Step 7: Follow-Up Review of Results

Bring all completed reports back to the original consultation room; physician reviews findings and determines next steps—e.g., prescribing medication, intravenous therapy, physical therapy, hospital admission, or surgical scheduling; re-consultation beyond 3 days requires new registration

Step 8: Medication Pickup or Treatment Delivery

Medication pickup: After payment, proceed to Western Pharmacy or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Pharmacy; verify name, drug name, dosage; listen carefully to pharmacist’s instructions regarding administration, contraindications, and potential adverse effects

On-site treatments: IV infusion, wound debridement, dressing changes, or physical therapy—present payment slip at designated treatment area

Step 9: Discharge & Post-Visit Documentation

Safeguard medical records, official invoices, test reports, and medications; chronic disease patients should retain prescriptions for long-term refills; retain all paper documents if seeking reimbursement

III. Emergency Visit Process (For Acute & Life-Threatening Conditions)

Proceed directly to the Emergency Triage Desk—no appointment or registration required

Nurses perform rapid triage and classification: Level I (critical)—immediate life-saving intervention; Level II (urgent)—seen within 10 minutes; Levels III/IV (less urgent)—wait in queue

Critically ill patients are granted green-channel access: treatment first, followed by fee settlement and administrative formalities

After examinations and interventions, mild cases discharge directly; more serious cases receive hospital admission certificates from emergency physicians for transfer to inpatient wards

Special Emergency Process for Foreign Patients (24-Hour Access, Priority Green Channel for Critical Cases)

Go directly to the Emergency Triage Desk—no appointment or registration needed; present passport

Nurses conduct triage: Level I (critical) patients receive immediate priority care—treatment before payment, with no delays due to documentation or financial status

Mild emergency cases undergo testing and receive prescriptions before discharge; more severe cases receive hospital admission certificates for ward transfer

Retain all emergency-related receipts for insurance claims

IV. Full Inpatient Admission Process (Initiated After Outpatient Physician Issues Admission Certificate)

Admission Registration

Bring: ID card, social security card, admission certificate, and prepayment deposit (cash / WeChat Pay / bank card)

• Insured patients must proactively inform staff to complete inpatient medical insurance registration (patients from other provinces/cities must complete cross-regional insurance registration in advance)

• Pay hospital deposit; receive patient wristband, assigned ward bed, and list of provided daily essentials

Inpatient Care & Treatment

Nurses conduct admission orientation, measure vital signs, and complete baseline tests

Attending physician conducts rounds, develops individualized treatment plans, and schedules surgeries or daily IV therapies/medications

Daily itemized hospital expense statements can be printed at nursing stations or self-service kiosks; out-of-pocket items are disclosed in advance and require patient signature confirmation

For off-ward examinations, nurses accompany patients or provide examination slips for independent travel to radiology/laboratory departments

Preoperative Process (If Surgery Required)

Preoperative testing → Anesthesia evaluation → Signing of surgical and anesthesia informed consent forms → Preoperative fasting and nil-by-mouth → Surgery in operating room → Postoperative observation in ward

Discharge Procedures

Physician issues discharge orders, discharge summary, and prescription for take-home medications

Present deposit receipt and social security card at the Admission/Discharge Settlement Center

Real-time “one-stop” medical insurance settlement: total charges minus insurance-covered amount; remaining deposit refunded or additional payment collected

Collect: discharge summary, final itemized invoice, certified copy of full medical record, take-home medications, and follow-up appointment slip

Full Inpatient Process for Foreign Patients (After Outpatient Physician Issues Admission Certificate)

Admission Registration

Bring: Original passport, admission certificate, insurance card / social security card, and hospital deposit

Foreign nationals covered under China’s domestic medical insurance: Complete inpatient medical insurance registration at service window; use insurance card for full real-time settlement

International commercial insurance holders: International Department facilitates direct-billing guarantees; general wards require full upfront deposit

Foreign patient identity information is entered into the system; wristband issued; ward assigned

Inpatient Care & Treatment

Nurses conduct admission orientation and complete baseline blood tests and imaging exams

Attending physician conducts rounds with bilingual communication; preoperative informed consent forms are signed in both Chinese and English

Daily itemized expense statements available for printing; special out-of-pocket services disclosed in advance and require signed consent

Major Grade-A tertiary hospitals’ International Departments employ dedicated medical interpreters—available 24/7 upon request

Discharge Settlement

Physician issues discharge summary (discharge record), take-home medication prescription, and diagnosis certificate

Unified settlement at Admission/Discharge window:

- Domestic medical insurance: Real-time “one-stop” reimbursement; deposit adjusted accordingly (refund or top-up)
- International insurance direct billing: Remaining balance settled on-site—no need to pay full amount upfront
- Self-pay patients: Full settlement required; receive fully stamped official receipts

Claim documentation package includes: discharge summary, final invoice, itemized inpatient expense statement, all examination reports, and diagnosis certificate