北京第一波疫情期间，也就是1月下旬到4月上旬这段时间，还真没去医院看过病。身体真是倍儿棒，啥事儿没有吗？也不是，就是能忍的忍了（有时小病也就耽误成慢性病了），能通过药店网上购药或通过“医生在线”“药师指导”，就都网购了（自费，能买到一些处方药），经常通过手机下载的 “叮当快药”平台购买药品。连平日里经常去医院，开老年病药的退休同志们也自费从网上购买降压降脂等药物，钱没少花。安眠药是处方药，一般药店还买不到，不少上岁数的同志们睡觉都不太好，真不知是怎么熬过来的。

During the first wave of the epidemic in Beijing, from late January to early April, I never went to the hospital to see a doctor for any uncomfortable. It didn’t mean I was pretty healthy during this period. No, it's just tolerable (sometimes minor illnesses can turn into chronic diseases). I have DingDang KuaiYao APP on my mobile. It is an o2o based medical and health Internet product. I can buy OTC drugs or some of prescription through their "doctor online" or "pharmacist guidance". It was more difficult time for elder people who have geriatric diseases and someone who have chronic diseases. They could buy some ones at DingDang or pharmacies at their own expense during this period if they didn’t want to go to the hospitals. Drugs, like sleeping pills are prescribed that are not available in pharmacies. Usually the doctor can only prescribe the sleeping pills for a week each time. It was really difficult time for people who need it everyday. 

24小时服务真不错，一般半个小时订的药就送到家了。The 24-hour service is really good, usually the medicine can be delivered within half an hour (cannot reimburse by insurance). 

这段时间虽然没看过病，但还是去过一次医院，就是为老同志们开药，他们是重点保护对象，医院这种地方除非必须，还是少去。那次是3月18日去的，疫情还较为严重，17号时，与各位需开药的同志们“面谈”，详细记录所需药品，并分人分科室列表打印。因为有的药只有某个医院有，所以无法去社区医院开药，只能去大医院。疫情后第一次去医院，非常紧张，还好，都可以在网上挂号。我和老公戴好口罩和防护眼镜，记得那次还戴了一次性手套。到了医院门口，才发现没车位，看病的人群与疫情前无甚区别，呜嚷嚷的多。医院也采取了新措施，进门都要出示手机健康码，还要测体温。老公去找车位，我先去挂号。虽然网上挂过了号，还是要在机器上打印，一排排的机器，可选项不少，需要的信息也不少，头会用还真是费了点儿劲儿，到扫描机器二维码支付挂号费时，由于大厅玻璃屋顶照在荧幕上反光，多次扫描不上，当时真是急得一身汗，幸好不是老同志们自己来的。我俩会合后，分兵两路，去不同的科室排队，有的科室在6楼，看着拥挤的电梯，我们还是果断地爬楼锻炼身体。在等待区也都是站着，时刻记得保持距离。医生们也都“武装”到位，诊室都开着门，有益于通风，经常洗手，轻易不接触病人，能让去拍片子做B超的就安排检查。开药最简单，医生还表扬我带着打印好的药单，这样节省时间，还不用多讲话。现在看病多用社保卡，医疗系统里都有每个人的用药记录，有部分药品，在疫情期间可以开出三个月的量，但是大多数还只能是两周，安眠药只能是一周。我俩行动迅速，配合缴费拿药。期间有位满头银发的长辈（现在不轻易称呼别人老奶奶了，自己都半头白发了），拉着我俩咨询机器上挂号，查来查去，没帮上忙，她需求的一项机器里没有（挂当天下午的号，预约B超什么的），我看一位穿白大褂的医生经过，将困难问题转嫁给了他。好久不来医院了，忘了药房给药但不提供塑料袋了，去水果店买了两个。回到家，放好药，换衣服洗澡，酒精擦洗在医院用过的东东，药也是在隔天后再整理分发的。现在想想当时的情景，真是此一时彼一时呀，那时去医院真是非常紧张。

Although I haven't seen a doctor during this period, I did go to the hospital once to prescribe medicines for the elder people at home. They are the key protection targets during the pandemic, and places like hospitals, they are rarely visited unless necessary. My husband and I went to the hospital on March 18 and the epidemic situation was still serious. We well prepared and “equipped” and successfully completed this “task”. It was really stressful to go to the hospital at that time. We listed the names of the drugs family elders need as below separably.

此一时和彼一时中间还有几个时间段，疫情分级别减弱，到6月中二波疫情又说来就来，一个多月二波疫情结束，到至今北京已经连续21天无新增本地新病例，政府最新日常防疫指引是市民在户外活动时，可不佩戴口罩（当与同伴以外的人近距离接触时，需佩戴口罩）。这期间因为颈部淋巴发炎，我已去过好几次医院，感觉各医院抗疫已经形成标准常态化。去的次数最多的是北京同仁堂中医医院。

不知是耽误了，还是疫情期间事情繁杂、情绪波动，嗓子不舒服，自行吃了不少西药、中药，副作用不小，嗓子时好时坏，直到两侧淋巴疼痛难忍去了医院，是淋巴管炎，吃了消炎药未见效，本想去找友谊医院的中西医专家看看，但是还是偷懒了，去了离家近的北京同仁堂中医医院。以前没听说过这家医院，是从微信114挂号平台上看到的，二级甲等医院。因为家离得近，原先看病都去协和医院、北京医院或同仁医院。这三家医院什么时候去，给我的感觉都是人潮涌动，医患交流时间短凑。后来政府号召大家不要大病小病都往三甲医院跑，才知道医院分三级（这三家都是三甲医院），三级医院级别最高，一般是市级或跨省级医院，其中又有特、甲乙丙，共四等；二级类似区级医院，一级为社区医院，一二级分别分为甲乙丙三等。三级甲等医院不少，其中又分三甲综合医院，三甲专科医院，三甲中医医院，三甲妇幼保健院。看来，看病求医也是门学问，学的细致，省时省事儿，效果好。

这次的淋巴管炎比较顽固，到两个三甲大医院分别挂了特需门诊和中医科，西药和中成药吃后都副作用较大，没再坚持去。之所以挂了300元的特需号，主要是想疫情期间普通号人太多，科室太挤，挂特需号应该人少，看病环境好（可以保持社交距离？），专家给予每个病人的时间会多些，更耐心些。结果证明是错的，等候区大家都坐一起，一般是间隔一个座位坐，因为看病的人多，有的地方也没有间隔；特需专家的诊室确实大很多，但是人进人出，管理不严，专家虽有一个助理（学生）在旁边记录，也是忙得没时间听病人絮叨，感觉心气儿很急，我记得以前特需专家号都限制数量的，这回感觉放的号不比普通号少。

The second wave of the epidemic in Beijing was between mid of June and July. By August 31, Beijing has not added new cases for 25 consecutive days. The government’s latest daily anti-epidemic guidelines state that citizens may not wear masks when they are outdoors (you need to wear masks when in close contact with people other than your companions). During this period, due to inflammation of the lymph nodes in my neck, I have seen doctors many times. It’s a tough disease. I saw several doctors and took antibiotics and Chinese medicine separately. The effects was limited but the side effects was strong.
I used to see doctors in several big hospitals nearby. They are all top rank hospitals with its comprehensive yet specialized departments and rich clinical experience. However, there are always full of patients coming from all over the country which makes the register is not easy. As I know, in the U.S., people make an appointment in advance online or by phone call or set the next appointment when you seeing your doctor. In China, people were used to register at the hospitals and to see a doctor in the same day. But the custom is changing in Beijing, there are several online platforms offering hospital register, like 114 or JingYiTong. Usually, people can make an appointment for the next 7 days. Along with the seriousness of this epidemic, the register through the APP of each hospital on the mobile is more and more popular and convenient. It already became part of the anti-epidemic measures and should last forever. The patients can easily register and know the hospitals, departments and each expert as well as their check results through these APPs.

协和医院门口，大家在用手机扫码，除了用手机出示本人的健康码，去每个医院还都要扫描医院的二维码，登记做记录。At the entrance of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, everyone was scanning the hospital code and submitting the requested information with their mobile phones. In addition to showing their health codes with their mobile phones, people also have to scan this QR code of the hospital to register for records. The entrance requirements in each hospital are nearly same now.

提交登记后，手持健康码，排队通过体温检测，才能进入医院门诊大厅。After submitting the registration, people need to hold the health code and line up to pass the temperature test before entering the outpatient hall of the hospital.

挂号一般都是通过网上提前预约，缴费退号等服务区，都在地上标出了等候距离。The registration is usually made in advance through online APPs, and the waiting distance is marked on the ground in service areas for making payment or refund.

普通号和特需号门诊等待区很难区分，要求是隔一个坐一位，感觉靠里面挂特需号的同志们坐得更亲密些。

这是北京医院进大门的量体温机器人，很多地方现在都有了，超市商场门口等。This is a temperature measuring robot at the entrance of Beijing Hospital. It can be seen in many other places, such as the entrance of supermarkets and shopping malls.

大屏幕循环播放就诊指南；大厅的自助机器有好几排，在这儿取号、预约、取化验结果等。The big screen broadcasts the consultation guide; there are several rows of self-service machines in the hall, where you can pick up appointment numbers, make appointments, make payments and print test results etc.

亲戚建议这病还是找中医院的中医看看吧。估计这病不是一次能看好的，我还是就近求医了，而且这家中医医院的号通过114预约也很容易约上，感觉“同仁堂”几个字也有分量。至今看了三次了，吃了不少汤药，感觉好了不少，但是对我的副作用也很大，再继续调着了。我对中医、西医都很相信，感觉各有各的优势，中西医结合可以治疗很多疑难病症。比如，我婆婆多年前突发脑血栓，危急时刻全靠西医手术和药物治疗。西医建议出院时，血栓算是处理好了，但是后遗症是右侧身体麻木。后来在中医康复医院治疗几个月，主要是靠针灸治疗加康复训练，老同志能自己走路，也能用筷子吃饭了。

在北京同仁堂中医医院看病，人也不少，但相对要好些，环境不错，也很有同仁堂特色，主要是医生和病人的交流时间更充裕些（中医专治急脾气😄）。虽然是中医医院，感觉医生都懂一些西医，医院里也能做理化检查，可以做B超拍X光什么的，还有西医内外科等。网上查了查，这家医院是2008年成立的，采购的设备应该都是比较先进的，通过检测手段加上中医的 “望、闻、问、切”和多年经验，可能对我这个诊为发炎的病症有不同的看法和治疗。

I found Beijing TongRenTang(TRT) Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine at 114 APP in my mobile. It’s a good surprise. Beijing TRT is a time-honored brand of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that enjoys a pristine reputation in domestic and overseas markets. I never knew they had a hospital before.  

I have strong belief in both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Both of them have their own advantages. Treatment by Integrated Medicine may treat many difficult and complicated diseases. For example, my mother-in-law had a cerebral thrombosis around 10 years ago, and she relied on western medicine surgery and medication in the critical moment. Her blood clot was treated, but the sequelae was numbness of the right side of the body when she was discharged from the hospital. Right after, she was treated for a few months in one of Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Hospitals, mainly relying on acupuncture treatment and Chinese medicines plus rehabilitation training. Then, she can walk by herself and eat with chopsticks with her right hand.

There are a lot of people In Beijing TongRenTang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine too, but it is relatively better. There are more time for the communication between doctors and patients. Although it is a traditional Chinese medicine hospital, I feel that the doctors know Western medicine knowledge more or less. The hospital can also offer common body examinations, such as B-ultrasonic, X-rays etc. There are internal department and surgical department as well. Through the “look, listen, question and feel the pulse -- four ways of diagnosis” of Chinese medicine and many years of experience plus the test data, it may have different views and solutions for the inflammatory in my lymph nodes. The treatment is clear effective after one and half month but with moderate side effects as well. The doctor is adjusting the medicine each biweekly.

疫情期间这个门诊大门未开放，用作看病取药的出口了。During the epidemic, the door of this outpatient clinic was not open and it was used as an exit for medical treatment and picking up medicine.

大家都从侧门进入，同样也是先出示健康码和量体温，进院后扫描医院二维码，做登记。Everyone entering from the side door needs to show the health code and temperature measurement first, and then scans the QR code of the hospital to register. Below is part of the questionnaire. 

感觉疫情期间，个人隐私没法那么重要了，该提供就提供吧；这调查登记表也是不断更新的，再次去时，就变成问近期是否去过新疆和东北了。People need to offer information including name, ID, detail address, where have you been recently etc. I feel that personal privacy is not that important during the epidemic, so just provide it as it’s a necessary protection for everyone; this survey registration form is updated, and when I go again, the updated question was whether I had been to Xinjiang and Northeast China recently where the second wave of pandemic happened at that time.

作为一个二级甲等医院，这家医院中英文指示做的挺到位。顺便记录一下，我在美国医院看病和陪同亲友看病，印象最深之一是他们对讲不同语言的病人的尊重-免费提供翻译，可以是预约好的翻译人员来现场服务，也有电话或视频翻译，为了让病人和医生更好地沟通，并能准确了解自己的病情。我曾看过护士台上立着的清单中，有提供不下十种语言的服务，多元化的国家人性化的表现。There are many hospitals in China by different ranks and different levels in each rank. As one of first level of Rank 2 hospitals, the Chinese and English instructions of this hospital are well done. By the way, I had visited hospitals more often as accompanying my relatives when I was in the U.S. One of my impressions is that the hospitals offer free translations to the patients who don’t speak English or speak English not well. The translation can be an on-site service by a well-appointed translator, or translation via phone or video. Its great helpful for the accurate communication between patients and doctors. I had seen a list for offering free translation at a nurse station. There are more than 10 languages listed. It’s a humanization service in a diversity country. 

大厅等候区的座位，标上了“空”和“坐”，空的座位还用胶带黏贴。As one of anti-pandemic measures, the seats in the waiting area are marked with "not available" and "available", and “not available” seats are also taped.

很喜欢医院和小院的风格，上网查了查，北京同仁堂中医医院位是在同仁堂创始人乐家老宅原址和原同仁堂制药厂基础上装修改造而成的。  I do like the building style of this hospital. I checked it online and found that Beijing TongRenTang(TRT) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital was build and renovated in 2008 on the basis of the original Lejia old house (the founder of TRT) and the original TRT Pharmaceutical Factory. The exterior decoration adopts the architectural style of Qing Dynasty.

疫情好转后，这些次看病也总结了些在北京的看病经验。1. 社区医院拿药方便，一般不用等，小病也能看 2. 看病前多咨询，多上网，选适合自己的医院，选擅长自己病的医生，疑难病症多看几位医生， 3. 医院在相当长一段时间内，可能不再提供现场挂号；现在都是通过微信 114预约平台或京医通APP上网挂号，有时一些三甲医院在114或京医通上显示没有号了，但是如果在微信里加入了医院自己的公众号，那里还有不少号可以挂，专家介绍和专家号也更多些；4. 加上医院的公众号的另一个好处是，可以方便查到检测报告 5. 没有手机或不用微信的同志，可以通过114查号台，电话挂号，也可以到医院大厅自助机器挂号（一般没有当天号）6. 虽然在医院门口出示了健康码，有的医院在进入不同科室时，还要重新出示健康码，最好截屏一张当日健康码，可以节省时间，特别时对一些老同志们  (Sharing my experience of going to hospitals in Beijing during the epidemic)

在美国待的这几年，在哪儿看病，一般都先找家庭医生，常见病慢性病，电话家庭医生就可以开药，直接到公司或家附近的药店取就行了，这点也挺好的，尤其疫情期间。前几天去北京医院给老同志们拿药，惊喜看到宣传，手机扫描安装“掌上北京医院”APP，可以足不出户、在线复诊、送药上门！这可真是雪中送炭，帮助很多不便出门的同志们解决了大问题。希望其它医院也能像北京医院一样，尽快开通这种便民服务。

In the past several years in the U.S., I learnt that people usually find their family doctor first when they feel uncomfortable or need medicine. They can make a phone call for their chronic or geriatric diseases, the family doctor can prescribe the medicine online to a pharmacy designated by the patient. The patient then can pick it up directly at this pharmacy near their home or company. This is very good way for elder or disable or busy people, especially during the pandemic. A few days ago, I went to Beijing Hospital to get medicine for my parents. I was pleasantly surprised to see the promotion banner. The patients of Beijing Hospital can scan the QR Code and install new APP at their mobile which can offer online follow-up visits and medicine home delivery service. It’s really timely assistance and improved humanization service!!! I believe that more and more hospitals will offer the similar advanced service very soon.