There is a shortage of beds in domestic tertiary hospitals, and the admission process for foreign nationals is cumbersome and the waiting period is long. If hospitalization is required, DOVECURE can assist in urgently coordinating beds, handling admission procedures, and liaising with attending physicians. At the same time, bilingual inpatient care is provided to assist in communication and daily care between doctors and patients throughout the process, without the need for family members to come to China specifically for companionship.

Thyroid, breast, and lung nodules are very common, mostly benign, and require comprehensive evaluation based on imaging details. DOVECURE will submit reports to specialist experts to assess risks and assist in scheduling punctures, enhanced CT scans, and other examinations as necessary, eliminating the need for multiple departments to travel back and forth.

Abnormal indicators do not necessarily mean illness, some are only caused by temporary changes in diet and lifestyle, so there is no need to panic excessively. DOVECURE medical consultants will first assess the risks, and if further diagnosis and treatment are needed, assist in liaising with top tier specialist experts to develop follow-up plans.

The reports of domestic medical examination institutions are defaulted to be in Chinese version, and there are a large number of professional medical terms, which are difficult to fully understand even if one has basic Chinese skills. DOVECURE provides professional medical report translation services, where professional translators with medical backgrounds translate complete reports into corresponding languages such as English/Arabic. The terminology is accurate and the expressions are standardized, allowing you to fully understand your health condition with just the right hand.

The routine physical examination report usually takes 3-5 working days to produce results, while additional special items (such as genetic testing, segmentation of tumor markers, pathological examination) may take 5-7 working days, depending on the number of items and the workload of the physical examination institution. DOVECURE will help you follow up on the progress of the report throughout the process and notify you as soon as it comes out, without you having to repeatedly check it yourself.

For surgeries and invasive procedures, the patient or authorized representative must sign. If the patient's family members are not in the country, you can authorize a companion or friend to sign on your behalf. For some surgeries, the patient can also sign themselves when they are conscious, subject to hospital regulations and the level of surgical risk.

DOVECURE can assist in communicating with the hospital regarding signature-related matters, cooperate with the handling of authorization and witness procedures, and ensure smooth surgery arrangements.

The original hospitalization examination report is kept by the hospital for archiving purposes and cannot be taken away by the individual. Upon discharge, one can apply for a copy of the full set of medical records and reports. After being stamped with the hospital's official seal, the copy has the same legal effect as the original and can be used for reimbursement and follow-up appointments.

DOVECURE's accompanying diagnosis specialist can assist in handling the copying and stamping process, organizing the documents, and providing foreign language translation to facilitate your follow-up appointments and claims processing upon returning to your home country.

It is generally not recommended to take self-brought medications during hospitalization to prevent conflicts with hospital medications.

If it is a necessary long-term medication, please inform the bedside doctor. Only after the doctor's assessment and permission can it be taken under medical supervision.

DOVECURE's accompanying diagnosis specialist will assist in communicating with the doctor, translating the drug ingredients and dosage, and ensuring medication safety.

 If you want to transfer to another hospital, you should first communicate with the doctor in charge of your bed. After the doctor's assessment and approval, you can proceed with discharge and then handle the admission procedures at the new hospital. Insurance has relevant requirements for hospital transfers, and non-compliant transfers will affect reimbursement.

If you need to transfer, DOVECURE can assist you in connecting with the bed and experts at the target hospital, organizing complete medical records to ensure seamless treatment, and verifying the key points for insurance reimbursement corresponding to the transfer.

 Emergency treatment generally follows the principle of proximity and urgency. Patients should first go to the nearest hospital with treatment capabilities. Emergency doctors are on duty in shifts, so it is generally not possible to specify a particular doctor. However, if the condition requires, patients can apply for an in-hospital consultation or transfer to another hospital.

If your condition is stable and you want to be transferred to a designated hospital for further treatment, DOVECURE can help you contact the target hospital, arrange for transportation, and make appointments for subsequent specialist outpatient visits.

 The cost of 120 ambulance service in Guangzhou generally ranges from 100 to 500 yuan, depending on the distance and emergency treatment provided on board.

This is much cheaper than in many other countries. Most commercial medical insurance and travel accident insurance can cover the ambulance fee, as long as you keep the invoice.

If you call an ambulance, DOVECURE's accompanying specialist will help you keep all the receipts and sort them out for reimbursement later.

Pregnant women and children are special patient groups. We recommend prioritizing comprehensive Grade-A tertiary hospitals with obstetrics and pediatrics departments, or specialized maternity and children's hospitals, as they offer more professional care.

Please note the following:

• For pregnant women seeking emergency care, be sure to clearly state your gestational week and whether you have any pregnancy complications — don't delay treatment.
• For children with fever who cannot communicate their symptoms due to crying or distress, try to bring along previous medical records and vaccination records to reduce communication difficulties.
• Many pediatric wards have a no-companion policy or only allow one parent to stay — please be mentally prepared for this in advance.

If you're bringing your child or spouse for medical treatment and are unfamiliar with the area, we strongly recommend DOVECURE's medical escort service. This is especially true for pediatric care — with all the running around, payment queues, and medication pickup lines, one person really can't manage it alone.

This is very common, especially for conditions requiring staged treatment.

DOVECURE can help you ensure a seamless transition:

• We'll help you arrange the approximate timing for your next treatment with the doctor before discharge.
• After you return home, we'll monitor bed availability, book your appointment in advance, and complete all hospitalization procedures before your next arrival.
• You'll be able to check in directly upon arrival, without needing to find a new doctor or repeat a bunch of tests — saving you a lot of time.

It's like having your own dedicated health file. When you come back next time, treatment can pick up right where it left off, without starting from scratch.

This is a common issue faced by foreign patients.

DOVECURE's medical escort specialists will help translate the medication dosage and contraindications into English, and apply bilingual labels to the medicine boxes indicating the time and dosage for each medication.

If you have any questions about your medication, you can always contact us to connect with the doctor — never take medication based on guesswork.

After returning home, if you need prescription refills or prescription translation, you can also entrust DOVECURE to handle these arrangements.

Some documents are available on the day of discharge; however, the complete inpatient medical record (including surgical records, pathology reports, etc.) requires several days to one week, as it must be written and reviewed by doctors before it can be copied.

Available on discharge day:‌ Discharge summary, diagnosis certificate, same-day test reports, prescriptions and medication lists.

The complete medical record can be printed at a later date, or you can entrust DOVECURE to handle the copying and translation on your behalf and mail it directly to your overseas address — no need to make a special return trip.

 For inpatients, tests are usually coordinated and scheduled by the ward nurses after the doctor writes the medical order. When it's time, someone will come to get you, or you'll be told the time to go to the examination department on your own.

Popular tests (such as MRI, CT, gastroscopy/colonoscopy, and ultrasound) may have a waiting time of 1–3 days. Non-urgent tests will require waiting. If you want to get the test done sooner and receive results faster, you can mention this to your doctor to see if it can be prioritized.

DOVECURE's inpatient escort service also includes test accompaniment: we'll accompany you to the examination room at the scheduled time, help with queuing, communicate with the technicians, and escort you back to the ward afterward — so you don't have to find your way around or run back and forth, making the whole process much less stressful.

Most hospitals allow food delivery. Orders are delivered to the ground floor of the ward building, and you or a family member can go down to pick them up — it's very convenient.

But please note:

• If your doctor has prescribed a light or liquid diet, don't eat outside food casually, as it may worsen your condition.
• For patients with special dietary needs due to diabetes, kidney disease, gout, etc., it's safer to stick to the hospital's customized meals.
• When ordering delivery, choose well-known, clean and hygienic brands. Don't try random unfamiliar street food — getting food poisoning would only make things worse.

If you're not sure what's good nearby or what fits your dietary requirements, you can ask your DOVECURE medical escort. We know the area well and can recommend reliable options.

We do not recommend taking them without prior approval. Be sure to inform your ward doctor in advance.

Medications you bring from home may contain overlapping ingredients or cause drug interactions with hospital-prescribed medicines, posing safety risks. Upon admission, please inform your doctor of all medications, supplements, and vitamins you are taking. You may only take them after your doctor's evaluation and approval.

When there are language barriers in communication, DOVECURE medical escort specialists can assist with translation and confirmation of your medication situation, ensuring medication safety.

It is perfectly normal to seek multiple opinions before major treatment or surgery.

You can directly request an in-hospital expert consultation from your attending physician. You may also bring your medical records and imaging materials to consult with specialists from other hospitals for a second medical opinion. ‌Do not stop taking medication or change your treatment plan on your own‌ — always discuss any concerns with your treating doctor first.

The consultation process can be complicated for overseas patients to navigate independently. DOVECURE can assist with booking external specialists, submitting medical records, and arranging online remote consultations, helping you easily obtain professional advice from multiple sources.

 It depends on your medical condition:

• For patients with stable conditions and full mobility: Submit a leave request to the attending medical team in charge of your care, stating your destination and expected return time. You may go out after approval.
• For patients with severe conditions, under monitoring, or receiving IV infusion: Leaving the hospital without permission is strictly prohibited due to safety risks.
• For those with insurance reimbursement needs: Leaving the hospital may affect your claim, so be sure to confirm in advance.

Always keep your contact information available and never leave the hospital without authorization. If you wish to go out, you can consult your DOVECURE medical escort specialist, who will help verify the doctor’s orders and keep you updated on treatment arrangements in a timely manner.

The daily routine in public hospitals is relatively fixed:

• 6:00–7:00 AM: Nurses take vital signs, perform blood draws, and deliver meals;
• 8:00 AM: Doctor’s ward rounds (visitors are requested to step outside during this time)
• 12:00 PM: Lunch and midday rest;
• 3:00–4:00 PM: Scheduled treatments and examinations
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner;
• 9:00–10:00 PM: Lights out, with nurses making routine night rounds.

Morning procedures start early, and multi-bed wards are more likely to have disturbances. If you have high requirements for sleep quality, a private ward is recommended.

Room changes are possible, but depend on bed availability in the target ward type. Simply submit a request to your attending doctor or head nurse. The transfer can be processed if a bed is available, and the room fee will be charged at the new rate. Single and double rooms in top-tier public hospitals are in high demand, and many departments have long waitlists, so a room may not be available immediately. If you have specific requirements for ward conditions, it is recommended to inform DOVECURE before admission. We can check bed availability in advance and help with the waitlist and reservation, to avoid shared wards as much as possible.

Public hospitals require valid ID for inpatient admission registration, and passports are the primary accepted document.

If your passport is lost or not with you, most hospitals can process admission provisionally upon presentation of a passport photo or copy, or a driver's license, international driver's license, or visa copy, with the original document to be provided later.

For critical and severe emergencies, treatment is prioritized first, and registration procedures are completed afterwards.

If you encounter admission issues due to document problems, you can contact DOVECURE's patient accompaniment coordinator to assist with communication and coordination with the hospital, ensuring treatment is prioritized while procedures are completed later.

Emergency observation refers to the emergency observation ward, which is for patients who do not need inpatient admission for the time being, but have unstable conditions and require short-term monitoring.

Differences from inpatient admission:

• Duration: Usually no more than 72 hours. You can leave the hospital once your condition improves, and you will be transferred to the inpatient ward if your condition worsens.
• Cost: It follows the emergency medical charging standard, and the reimbursement policy is different from that of inpatient treatment.
• Management: There are fewer restrictions, and family members can stay with the patient.

If the doctor suggests emergency observation but you face language barriers or have no one to take care of you, DOVECURE can provide emergency patient accompaniment services, handle all procedures on your behalf and assist in doctor-patient communication.

 It depends on your condition: For critical emergencies, the 120 ambulance will send you to the nearest hospital with qualified treatment capabilities for priority rescue, and you cannot choose the hospital on your own.

If your condition is stable and it is a general emergency, you can go to your target hospital by yourself, and it is recommended to prioritize top-tier public hospitals with international departments and foreign-related outpatient clinics.

If you are not sure how to choose, you can contact DOVECURE. We will recommend a suitable hospital for you based on your location and condition, and assist with pre-connection in advance to speed up the consultation process.

Call 120 right away if you experience:

• confusion, coma, convulsions;
• chest pain, tightness, breathing difficulty, cold sweats (suspected heart attack or stroke);
• severe trauma, heavy bleeding, bone fractures;
• intense abdominal pain, hematemesis, hemoptysis; sudden facial droop, limb weakness, slurred speech (stroke warning signs);
• severe allergy with breathing difficulty.

For common cold, mild diarrhea, low fever, small scrapes, you can take a taxi to the hospital emergency department on your own.

If unsure, contact ‌DOVECURE 24/7 Health Advisor‌ to assess the need for medical care and find the right hospital, avoiding delayed treatment or unnecessary trips.

Most 120 operators only speak Chinese, and language barriers may delay rescue.

When calling, clearly state your exact address (hotel, road, house number), main symptoms, and keep your phone line open. You can describe symptoms with simple English keywords.

If communication is difficult, call ‌DOVECURE 24/7 Emergency Hotline‌ first. We will connect with 120 on your behalf, communicate your address and condition, and arrange a nearby patient coordinator to assist you at the hospital.

Yes. Discharge summaries, test reports and billing statements can be translated into English with official translator stamps, valid for overseas insurance claims and further medical treatment.

Hospital stays and emergencies can be stressful overseas. DOVECURE medical concierge covers emergency response, in‑hospital escort, paperwork support and official medical‑document translation for your safe medical journey in China.

You may follow doctor’s instructions and get check‑ups locally in your home country.

Send us your test results for medical advice from your previous attending physician.

DOVECURE can also support tele‑consultation and arrange medication delivery overseas.

Emergency payment is due on‑site. Cash, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

Direct‑billing is available at private hospitals and international wings of public hospitals.

General public hospital emergency rooms usually require upfront payment. Keep medical records and receipts for insurance claim after returning home.

Most emergency‑room staff only speak basic English for complex medical conditions. Keep contacts of Chinese‑speaking contacts for interpretation.

Clients of DOVECURE medical concierge get 24‑hour emergency response. Call us when emergencies occur, and our bilingual on‑site escorts will assist with doctor communication and hospital paperwork.

No appointment is required. Emergency departments are open 24/7.

Triage is applied: critical‑condition patients (heart attack, stroke, severe trauma) get priority. Non‑urgent cases such as fever or gastroenteritis are seen in registration order.

For life‑threatening emergencies, call 120 for an ambulance to the nearest qualified hospital.