The Strategic Establishment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine as a Subspecialty in China

PCCM at the Battlefront Against COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

“…Seemingly coincidentally, the medical aspects required in the management of patients with COVID-19 encompass almost the entire curriculum content. [7][8][9] Experts from CHEST visited and provided hands-on training to faculties at each participating hospital. Under the supervision of a joint steering committee consisting of leading experts from CHEST and China, 54 PCCM fellows from 12 leading hospitals have since graduated from the program.…”

“…Currently, more than 900 PCCM fellows are enrolled in 79 programs across China. 9 In line with the development of a PCCM fellowship program, a detailed standard for creation of a PCCM department was established by the CTS and the Chinese Association of Chest Physicians in 2018, consisting of six components: organization of the department, scope of practice, essential space and equipment, faculty and staff, administration body, and culture. Inclusion of medical and respiratory ICUs was emphasized as a main component of a PCCM department.…”

“…By September 2019, more than 1,600 hospitals in China had participated and become compliant with requirements set forth by the PCCM Department Standardized Construction Program. 9 Thus, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese PCCM field had already become a wellorganized profession. Its highly respected leaders and a core team qualified by using an established set of standards have attracted a large number of enthusiastic applicants.…”