Radiology

1. Professional diagnostic team

Through the efforts of several generations, the Department of Radiology at Dongguan People's Hospital has continuously strengthened its comprehensive capability. The department as a whole is composed of the radiology services of the new Dongguan People's Hospital, Honglou, Puji Branch, Rouji Outpatient Department, First Outpatient Department and Dental Centre. It has 106 staff in total, including 45 physicians (2 Chief Physicians, 7 Associate Chief Physicians, 9 Attending Physicians and 27 physicians and interns); 39 technical staff (3 technologists of associate senior professional rank, 5 technologists of intermediate professional rank, and 31 technologists and technicians); 14 nurses (3 of associate senior professional rank, 5 of intermediate professional rank and 6 nurses); and 8 registration staff. These titles refer to the Chinese professional rank system. There are 2 with doctoral degrees and 8 with master's degrees. One physician receives a State Council allowance and has been awarded the title of outstanding scientific and technological talent of Dongguan. Several physicians hold the posts of chair, standing committee member, committee member and secretary of the Radiology Branch of the Dongguan Medical Association, and play a leading role in the radiology academic community of Dongguan. At the same time, several physicians and technical staff serve as committee members and standing committee members of the Guangdong radiology society and other academic organisations.

2. Advanced medical equipment

In 1992, the Department of Radiology at Dongguan People's Hospital was the first in Dongguan to introduce the most advanced CT scanner in the country; in 2001 the hospital was again among the earliest in the city to introduce high-field MR. Over the past nearly 20 years it has performed large numbers of clinical examinations and has accumulated rich experience in imaging examinations and diagnosis. It has well-developed diagnostic techniques and a strong pool of talent, and to this day has substantial capability in research, teaching and medical care. As science and technology have advanced, radiology equipment has been continuously updated and replaced. The department now has 4 CT scanners, one of which is the world's most advanced 256-slice spiral CT; 3 high-field MR scanners, one of which is the latest 3.0T MR scanner; 2 angiography units with large flat-panel detectors that acquire three-dimensional data directly; 7 digital CR units; 7 DR radiography units; 5 gastrointestinal units; and 1 molybdenum-target mammography X-ray unit. It has a large-scale computer network system that has allowed the department to achieve full digitalisation.

3. Systematic diagnostic orientation

Following the system-based grouping method commonly used in the international radiology community, the department is divided into three major system groups: neurological, head and neck and skeletal; thoracic and cardiac; and abdominal and pelvic. Research and daily work are carried out according to each system, covering the comprehensive imaging diagnosis and interventional treatment of clinical radiography, CT, MR and interventional radiology. Under the leadership of the department director, comprehensive and strict radiology rules and regulations and the duties of all categories of personnel have been established. Supported by the advanced computer network system, the department has a smooth patient pathway and strict quality control of images and diagnosis, ensuring patient safety and providing patients with high-quality medical services.

4. Rich research achievements

Over the years, under the leadership of successive generations of radiology leaders and the clinical core staff of each group, physicians, technologists and nurses throughout the department have published nearly 100 papers in core national journals. They have obtained 6 scientific and technological achievements, including “Clinical study of diffusion-weighted MRI for focal liver lesions”; these were appraised scientifically and technologically as reaching a nationally leading or nationally advanced level, and all received Dongguan Science and Technology Progress Awards. Several projects, including “Clinical study of combined multi-sequence MRI in the diagnosis of prostate cancer and assessment of its biological behaviour”, are currently under investigation. The department holds 5 national utility model patents.

The department also undertakes continuing education training tasks for Guangdong Province every year. Each year it accepts interns in imaging and clinical specialties from a number of higher education institutions inside and outside the province, as well as advanced trainees from hospitals in the city.

Powerful PACS network system and physician reporting workstations