The department of rheumatology & immunology has the highest level of diagnosis and treatment technique of rheumatoid disease in Hainan province, and it is the earliest one with an independent ward in the region. The department was established in 2007 and became independence in 2016. It is the leader of rheumatology in Hainan province and the founder of rheumatology branch of Hainan Medical Association. The department has 31 beds and provide medical services for 6,000 outpatients and 2,000 inpatients per year. There are general specialist clinics, gout specialist clinics, systemic lupus erythematosus specialist clinics and rheumatoid specialist clinics for outpatients. At the same time, the department is also the construction unit of the National Rheumatology Data Center and a member unit of the Chinese Rheumatology Medical Association Alliance; a member unit of the Hainan Rheumatology Medical Association. In March 2019, it was awarded the title of National Gout Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Service Center.

Specialty Team

Under the leadership of the current academic leader: Professor Chen Weifei, the department has formed a multidisciplinary professional team for clinical, research and teaching with high reputation in Hainan province. There are 8 doctors and 15 nurses in the department. One of the doctors is chief physician, 4 are attending physicians and 3 are residents. All the doctors have good education background. Three of them have Master degree.

Advancing Medical Technology

The department of rheumatology & immunology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, gout, inflammatory arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis and systemic vasculitis etc. and other systemic diseases which have rheumatoid manifestations. In 2016 and 2017, our hospital successively purchased large-scale medical equipment dual-source CT and musculoskeletal ultrasound, and pioneered the application of dual-source CT in the diagnosis of gouty arthritis in Hainan Province. It solves the clinical technical difficulties in the diagnosis of early gouty arthritis and atypical gout, so that the level of diagnosis of gout in our hospital is in line with the advanced diagnosis technology at home and abroad. Recently, the department received the accreditation of Gout Standardized Treatment Center from the Chinese Rheumatology Medical Association Alliance. Meanwhile, our department is also the construction unit of National Rheumatology Data Center and the member of Chinese Rheumatology Medical Association Alliance. We are highly experienced in treating common, difficult and critical disease. The department is the innovator of a number of diagnosis and treatment technologies for severe rheumatic diseases in Hainan province, such as dual-source computer tomography, labial gland skin biopsy, kidney and muscle biopsy, spinal and joint physical therapy, common autoantibody detection in rheumatology, ⁹⁹Tc-MDP therapy, and the administration of some new drugs such as biological targeted therapy gives new hopes to patients with refractory connective tissue disease.

Specialist

Weifei Chen, chief physician, professor and the director of department of rheumatology and immunology. Professor Chen has been leaders in many academy associations, such as the Committee Member of Rheumatology branch of Asia-Pacific Association of Medical and Bio-Immunology, member of Rheumatology and Molecular Immunity branch of National Association of Health Industry and Enterprise Management, Associate Director of Rheumatology branch of Hainan Medical Association, Vice President of Rheumatology branch of Hainan Medical Doctor Association, Associate Director of Rheumatology branch of Hainan Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, member of Chinese Society for Immunology, member of Allergy Reaction Branch of Hainan Medical Association, member of Kidney Disease Professional Committee of Hainan Medical Association, and reviewer of Hainan Medical Journal.

Professor Chen has contributed in medicine and medical education since 1993, and specializes in diagnosing and treating rheumatic disease, with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, hyperuricemia and gout, and other complex rheumatic diseases. Professor Chen has published more than 30 research publications on domestic and international journals, such as Lupus and so on. In addition, he presided 1 research of Natural Science Fund Project of Hainan province and participated in four of provincial scientific research projects, one of the 13th Five-Year National Key R&D Program Precision Medicine Research Projects, one of Hainan Provincial Key Social Development R&D Programs, and one of Key Projects of Education and Teaching Reform in Higher Education Institutions in Hainan Province. With the outstanding contributions on the researching of rheumatic disease, he has got the Second Prize of Science and Technology Progress of Hainan Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Bureau and the Science and Technology Progress Award of Hainan province.

Teaching and Harvest

Our department provides teaching and medical training for undergraduates, nursing students, residents and postgraduate students. Our hospital is a national-level resident standardized training base. In order to help young doctors and physicians master the diagnosis and treatment of common diseases and frequently-occurring diseases in rheumatology and immunology, we carry out teaching activities such as teaching rounds, case discussions and clinical lectures. 

Our department had gained a lot of achievements since 2016, including published 4 papers in core journals, presided over one project in the institute, and launched 5 new technology projects. We also actively participating in national and provincial annual conferences and various academic activities. In addition, Dr. Liang won the third place in the Youth Group of the Six Provinces of Central and South China in the National Excellent Vasculitis Case Competition of the Sansheng Entering Cup.

Future and Prospects

Rheumatology is a relatively new field in China. All the doctors and nurses in the department of rheumatology & immunology will make every effort to improve ourselves in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid disease and provide a better service to every patient. In order to establish a platform for communication between rheumatism patients and physicians, we built the patient WeChat group of rheumatoid disease and hold annual free medical consultation clinic. In the future, we will continue adhering to hospital mission while promoting a spirit of life-saving, pragmatic, striving for excellence, and close collaboration.