China's medical escort service enters the era of standardization

China News Service, Harbin, November 1 (Reporter Zhao Yuhang) "In the past, work was all based on experience, and there was no clear service boundary. Patients often wanted me to help interpret reports and judge the condition. It was difficult for me to grasp the appropriateness. Now that the national standards have been implemented, it is clear what can and cannot be done. Our positioning is 'accompanying', not 'doctoring.'" Liu Jianping, a "post-00s" medical attendant, said in an interview in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province on November 1.

On the same day, the first national standard for China's medical accompanying industry, "Basic Requirements for Socialized Medical Accompanying Services," was officially implemented. The standard clarified that accompanying medical services are auxiliary people's livelihood services. Practitioners are strictly prohibited from carrying out medical behaviors such as disease diagnosis, report interpretation, and medication guidance, and are strictly prohibited from intervening in professional diagnosis and treatment decisions. At the same time, practitioners are required to complete formal pre-job training, hold a health certificate, and the entire service process is compliant and traceable to avoid industry risks from the source. The accompanying medical service has thus entered a new stage of standardized and professional development.

Liu Jianping believes that accompanying patients is far from simply leading the way and running errands: they must not only be familiar with the medical treatment process and understand basic documents, but also pay attention to the patient's physical condition, do a good job in emotional counseling, strictly observe customer privacy, and call medical staff as soon as possible in case of emergencies, so as to clear the medical block for people seeking medical treatment alone.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China, by the end of 2025, China’s population aged 60 and over reached 323.38 million, accounting for 23% of the country’s population. The elderly population continues to grow, and the social demand for professional medical escorts continues to be released.

68-year-old Chang Shuyan came to Harbin from other places for medical treatment and suffered from various basic diseases. The hospital buildings are scattered and there are many inspection items, so queuing for a long time is a big test for her physical strength. Digital operations such as online registration and checking electronic reports are also very difficult for her. "While waiting, I was worried that no one would help me if I felt unwell. Having a medical attendant help sort out my complaints and record medical orders made me feel more at ease," Chang Shuyan said.

Many customers need not only errands, but also emotional companionship during the medical treatment. Zhang Zhongyuan, a "post-00s" clinic attendant, has many clients who are young and living alone. Wang Bo, a 25-year-old programmer, lives alone and needs spiritual comfort the most when seeking medical treatment: “It’s easy to have random thoughts when you’re checking up alone and waiting for the results. If you have someone to chat with you, your anxiety will be reduced a lot.”