Department of Anesthesiology Chengwei Qin
New York City (NYC) is a world famous highly developed city which consists of 4 districts: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx. There are many world famous scenic spots in Manhattan, like World Trade Center, Wall Street, Time square, the United Nations Headquaters, the Empire State Building, the Central Park and so on. The Statue of Liberty is a classical cultural symbol of the USA.
Doctor’s career pathway is really tough in America. Only the most excellent graduates are possible to be enrolled by medical schools. Medical school students will be interns for 1 year in hospital after a 3-year study in school. Then they will receive residency training which varies from 5 to 7 years. After that, there wil be an examination for attendings. Finally, the trainee turns out to be a qualified doctor.
Hospital introduction
Mount Sinai Group has 8 hospitals in New York. I visited and observed operating rooms in 3 of them, met about 20 anesthesiologists. The Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center was founded in 1892 by the Jewish and managed with high-performance standardization. You will not find many people within the hospital while approximately 10 thousands surgical procedures are perfoemed every year in the hospital. Many patients go home immediately after operation without hospitalization.An appointment is a must before the patient go to see a doctor. And many businesses (signing documents) are done by patients independently, without help of their family members. Every patient is entitled to know and fully understand the development of his (her) illness. All hospital staff is very sympathetic to the patient, therefore, they enjoy a very high prestige.
Even though their medical instruments are of high performance, I think the gap of medical technology and clinical operation is not so big between The Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center and our hospital. On the other hand, they do waste lots of medical sources. Maybe that’s why they suffer from expensive medical expenditure.
Social difference
New York City is a melting city with different populations from many countries. Its infrastructure is very good. It has scientific and rational urban planning. The city just like a huge theater, every one in it could do what he wants to do within the limit of law. New Yorkers like fitness. You will find many people running in park or beach. There is a saying: To do something when awake; to run when confused; to sleep when rage; to think when left alone.
But every thing has two sides. There are many homeless people on the street. Just like the saying goes: The dainties of the great are the tears of the poor.
Personal experience
I saw the significant social and cultural diferences between China and America. My attitude towards work, life and patients has been impacted significantly after the visit to NYC. I will do my best in the future to serve both my family and my patients.
