On November 20, 2024, a joint research team comprising representatives from the International Cooperation Department of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, the International Language Environment Construction Department of the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, and the School of Medical Humanities at Peking University conducted on-site visits to three hospitals: the Yizhuang Branch of Beijing Tongren Hospital, the Changying Branch of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, and the East Branch of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. The investigation focused on the progress of building international language environments in outpatient, emergency, and international medical departments. During the visits, the team examined bilingual signage, assessed the achievements and challenges faced by these institutions in international language environment construction and serving foreign patients.

Beijing Tongren Hospital has taken innovative steps by integrating language environment construction into outpatient services and complaint handling. The hospital has also established a bilingual ophthalmology library that showcases its commitment to providing refined services. Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, since the establishment of its Changying New Campus, has prioritized the implementation of soft power for an international advanced city. The hospital has installed nearly 1,300 bilingual signs following the "English Translation Standards for Chinese Signs in Public Places," ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in its signage at the public places of the hospital, continuously increasing the quality of its medical services. To enhance the convenience and sense of satisfaction for foreign patients, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospitalconducted a comprehensive review and full update of bilingual signage in outpatient, emergency, and specialty clinics in May this year. Pink was selected as the unified background color for the signage, creating a comfortable and eye-catching visual effect that highlights the hospital's humanistic approach to serving female patients.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including the increasing number of patients who speak less common languages, synchronizing bilingual medical information (e.g., prescriptions and registration forms), and updating the medical terminology database to keep pace with emerging concepts in medical technology. The research team provided targeted suggestions to address these issues for the institutions.

Moving forward, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission will work closely with the Municipal Party Committee Foreign Affairs Office, the Municipal Government Foreign Affairs Office, and Peking University’s School of Medicine to provide policy support, technical guidance, professional training for medical institutions, and carry out related thematic research. These efforts aim to drive the innovative development of international language environments in Beijing’s healthcare facilities and strengthen the city’s role as a hub for international exchange.