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Our CCC Group Completed Training at Charité Hospital, Germany
From November 20-24, 2023, Shanghai General Hospital dispatched a multidisciplinary team specializing in pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, gynecological tumors, and lung cancer, comprising Doctor Zhu Li from the Breast Surgery Department, Doctor Long Jiang from the Pancreatic Surgery Department, Doctor Wan Rong from the Gastroenterology Department, Doctor Zhang Min from the Respiratory Department, Doctor Bao Wei from the Gynecology Department, Doctor Liu Yong from the Radiotherapy Department, and Doctor Yuan Lin from the Pathology Department, to participate in a week-long onsite training and observation at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany, led by Director Liu Fang from the International Cooperation &Exchange Office. This initiative marks the fifth group dispatched by our hospital to Germany for Comprehensive Cancer Center Certification (CCCC) training since the collaboration began with the German Cancer Society in 2017 at Shanghai General Hospital. Professor Ulrich Keiholz, Doctor of the CCC Center at Charité Hospital, along with department heads, coordinated the training across Charité Hospital's four campuses in Berlin.
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, with a history spanning 313 years, is recognized as the premier hospital in Europe and has consistently ranked as the number one hospital in Germany for 11 consecutive years, as well as the seventh best hospital globally for five consecutive years. The Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center is accredited by the European Cancer Organisation as the best comprehensive cancer center in Europe. Its scope of services includes cancer prevention, early cancer detection, tumor diagnosis and treatment, patient follow-up, data collection and management for diagnostics and treatment, and the full spectrum of basic and clinical oncology research.
During the one-week training program, participants visited the Charité Hospital, which boasts over half of Germany's Nobel laureates, and explored its illustrious history of numerous firsts in Western medicine. Additionally, they systematically studied how the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center transformed over more than a decade. This transformation involved reorganizing various independent disciplines related to oncology into a cohesive and coordinated comprehensive cancer center. The process included implementing multidisciplinary co-treatment, comprehensive process management, standardized clinical pathways, and uniform diagnostic and treatment standards within the organizational structure and management model.
The trainees meticulously observed the multidisciplinary tumor board meetings at Charité Hospital, with a particular focus on the unique molecular tumor diagnosis discussions. They gained detailed insights into how Charité's Comprehensive Cancer Center utilizes the "Cancer Hotline" to coordinate the extensive demands of cancer patients. Additionally, they learned about the "Second Opinion" system, which provides professional support to cancer treatment institutions and patients throughout Germany, thereby enhancing Charité's influence and outreach among patients and peers.
The trainees studied the advanced information system at Charité CCC, which integrates medical indicators and clinical pathways within the database of various cancer patient treatments. They also engaged with specialists from different disciplines, observed the operations and management of the operating rooms, and examined the intraoperative pathological examination processes. Furthermore, they learned about the research progress, laboratory configurations, and research management experience in the field of cell therapy at Charité's clinical and basic research center.
Since initiating collaboration with the German Cancer Society for CCC learning and certification, our hospital has successfully promoted the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model for various types of cancer. In 2019, our Colorectal Tumor Center received organ-specific cancer center certification from the German Cancer Society. Multidisciplinary discussions for prostate cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gynecological tumors have become standardized in our diagnostic and treatment processes, significantly enhancing the standardization and overall quality of our oncology care.
During their training, our trainees closely examined the comprehensive operations of the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, identifying gaps and areas for improvement to inspire innovation and reform. This process clarified the issues, boosted confidence, and confirmed the direction for advancing our Comprehensive Cancer Center to a higher level. The high standards, professionalism, and dedication exhibited by our trainees left a profound impression on their counterparts at Charité Hospital.
At the conclusion of the training, Professor Ulrich Keiholz, on behalf of Charité Hospital, expressed a strong desire to establish a long-term, stable, and in-depth cooperative relationship with Shanghai General Hospital. Both parties agreed to sign a strategic cooperation agreement to engage in comprehensive collaboration across various fields, including talent cultivation, research cooperation, clinical experience sharing, and comprehensive cancer center management.
