How to seek for Emergency Medical Care in China for Foreign Travelers at Nighttime

How to seek for Emergency Medical Care in China for Foreign Travelers at Nighttime

1. Understanding China's Nighttime Emergency Services

A. Hospital Emergency Department (急诊科) Structure

Public hospitals operate 24/7 emergency services with tiered prioritization:

Triage Level	Condition Examples	Avg. Wait Time	Common Departments Available
Level 1 (Critical)	Heart attack, stroke	Immediate	Internal Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology
Level 2 (Urgent)	Fractures, severe burns	<30 mins	Orthopedics, Burns, Pediatrics
Level 3 (Non-urgent)	Fevers, minor cuts	1-3 hours	General Practice

Key Facts:

• 85% of Grade 3A hospitals maintain full specialist coverage after 10PM (2023 NHSA Report)

• Only 12% of public hospitals have dedicated English-speaking night staff

2. Step-by-Step Nighttime ER Process

Before Leaving Your Hotel

1. Prepare Documents:

   • Passport copy

   • Insurance card (if any)

   • List of:

     • Medications (generic names)

     • Allergies (in Chinese: 过敏史 guòmǐn shǐ)

2. Use Translation Tools:

   • WeChat "Tencent Translator" (scan ER forms)

   • Print emergency card:"我需要急诊，我有 [症状]。我的血型是 [ ]。我对 [ ] 过敏。"("I need emergency care for [symptoms]. My blood type is [ ]. I'm allergic to [ ].")

At the Hospital

1. Registration (挂号):

   • Go to 急诊挂号窗口 (ER registration)

   • Pay deposit: ¥200-500 ($30-70) cash/Alipay

2. Triage (分诊):

   • Nurse assesses urgency (shown by colored wristband)

   • Red = Immediate, Yellow = <1hr, Green = Non-urgent

3. Treatment:

   • Expect basic diagnostics (X-ray/ultrasound available overnight)

   • Complex tests (MRI) often wait until morning

3. Critical Dos & Don'ts

✅ What Works

• Best Timing: 8-10PM (more staff than late night)

• Public Hospital Choice: Look for "三级甲等" (Grade 3A) signs

• Payment: Keep ¥1000+ cash - most ERs don't accept foreign cards

❌ What to Avoid

• Private clinics after midnight (92% close by 10PM)

• Assuming ambulance includes treatment (they only transport)

• Refusing receipt (发票 fāpiào needed for insurance claims)

4. Life-Threatening Situations: Special Protocol

For Strokes/Heart Attacks

1. Call 120 → Clearly state:

   • "心脏病" (xīnzàng bìng) for heart issues

   • "中风" (zhòngfēng) for strokes

2. While Waiting:

   • Chew 325mg aspirin (if no allergy)

   • Note symptom onset time (critical for thrombolysis)

For Severe Trauma

• Request direct transfer to:

  • 省级医院 (Provincial-level hospitals)

  • 创伤中心 (Trauma centers - only 38 nationwide)

Evacuation Insurance Note:

• Confirm if your policy covers air ambulance (avg. ¥80,000/$12,000 domestically)