The Division of Internal Medicine, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine at West China Hospital is rooted in the Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (established in 1956) and was established in 2022 under the Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. It is currently a National Outstanding Key Discipline of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a First-Level Doctoral Degree Authorization Center for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, a Key Pulmonary Disease Specialty of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a National Clinical Research Base for Pharmaceutical Drugs (Traditional Chinese Medicine), and a National Demonstration Unit for Traditional Chinese Medicine Work in Comprehensive Hospitals.
The division currently has 38 physicians and 33 nursing staff. Among them, 18 hold senior professional titles, 3 are doctoral supervisors, and 4 are provincial renowned TCM practitioners. The division has 104 inpatient beds (54 in the main hospital campus and 50 in Shangjin Hospital campus) and offers four clinical subspecialties: Integrated TCM-Western Medicine in Respiratory Medicine, Acupuncture, Oncology, and Gastroenterology. There are 15 outpatient consultation and treatment rooms, as well as one studio for Li Tingqian, one of the Top Ten Renowned TCM Practitioners of Sichuan Province. The division enjoys a strong reputation for its distinctive integrated TCM-Western medicine approach.
Respiratory Medicine Subspecialty:
The division has innovatively proposed theories and methods for the integrated prevention and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and interstitial lung diseases, establishing a comprehensive integrated TCM-Western medicine prevention and treatment system that complements the strengths of both approaches. This work has received the First Prize of Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. The division has built an in-hospital brand for TCM treatment of chronic cough. It actively conducts clinical new drug research and, as the lead unit, has spearheaded over 20 respiratory new drug trials, establishing a strong GCP specialty in TCM respiratory medicine. In addition, the division engages in extensive and in-depth international collaborations with world-class respiratory medicine centers in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Acupuncture Subspecialty:
Guided by a "patient-centered" philosophy, the acupuncture team "reaches out" to provide medical services to hospitalized patients throughout the hospital, developing multiple new acupuncture technology treatment plans with distinctive West China Hospital features and improving patient satisfaction. The subspecialty has established four special disease clinics: bone injury and pain, digestive dysfunction, bone metabolic disorders, and limb paralysis.
Oncology Subspecialty:
For malignant tumors, the division has developed a stage-specific integrated TCM-Western medicine treatment approach that reduces patient suffering, improves quality of life, and extends patient survival.
Gastroenterology Subspecialty:
For incomplete intestinal obstruction, the division employs different TCM purgative methods — aggressive, mild, and moistening. For refractory adhesive intestinal obstruction in particular, the division uses a combination of oral, topical and enema administration of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, along with gastrointestinal intervention and surgery, achieving good clinical outcomes.
The Division of Internal Medicine, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine emphasizes the innovation and application of TCM specialized techniques. These effective techniques are widely used in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and the division actively pursues the application of new TCM technologies, which has improved patient satisfaction. In addition, focusing on TCM specialized techniques, the division has carried out activities to bring TCM "three entries — to grassroots, to communities, and to rural areas," receiving wide acclaim from the public.
The Division of Internal Medicine, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine upholds the development philosophy of "inheriting the essence and pursuing innovation while maintaining the right path," adheres to the tenet of "great medical practice with sincerity and excellence," and is dedicated to serving patients with utmost care.
