Zhang Guoqing, head of the People's Hospital in the Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, has been named a model worker of Shandong province, recognizing his work integrating western and traditional Chinese medicine.

With 28 years of experience as a doctor, Zhang has helped steer the People's Hospital in Weifang to focus on the better treatment of diseases using TCM and western treatment. The hospital is now renowned for its expertise in treating chronic diseases, rehabilitation therapy, maternity and baby care.

Xu Changtao suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was admitted to the hospital a little over a month ago. With treatment from the hospital's neurology department, Xu, whose hand was paralyzed as a result of the hemorrhage, is seeing the results of his gradual recovery.

"With effort I can now lift my left hand," Xu said.

Zhang, who has overseen Xu's treatment, said that his condition will continue to improve with physiotherapy over the coming months.

"We visited other hospitals but they only provide rehabilitation therapy once a day. Here, we receive the therapy twice a day and the services are much better," Xu's wife said.

At the People's Hospital's rehabilitation therapy center, there are many people in a similar situation. Some of them are residents in the zone, while a large proportion of them, like Xu, are from other areas of the city.

Born to a family with a strong history of TCM, Zhang, who has been working at the hospital since 2016, has devoted himself to combined western and TCM treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.

Under his suggestion, green channels were developed in the hospital, so people who have had a stroke can receive treatment in the most efficient way.

Zhang and his team also strongly support the Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone's public push to improve its health services.

As a part of its social welfare system, the zone provides free body examinations for designated groups. Statistics from the hospital show that 8,179 people and 7,910 people have received free screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer respectively in the hospital over the past two years.

Zhuang Jian contributed to this story.