Digital workflows—including self-service registration kiosks, electronic medical records, and online payment systems—have become standard fixtures in hospital outpatient halls. Yet for the elderly, these "conveniences" have created an insurmountable barrier. Simultaneously, groups including out-of-town patients, young adults living alone and pregnant women also feel helpless when navigating complex hospital layouts and medical procedures. Against this backdrop, a new profession called "hospital companion" has quietly emerged, rapidly evolving from scattered individual efforts into a noteworthy new social service model.

Rigid demand forged by aging and the digital divide

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China indicates that by the end of 2025, China's population aged 60 and above had reached 323 million. For this demographic, a hospital visit is a test of physical stamina and cognitive ability. The ubiquitous self-service terminals, the myriad of mini-programs requiring QR code scans, and the complex rules for time-slot appointments deter many seniors unfamiliar with smart devices, sometimes causing them to delay necessary medical care.

This digital divide created by technological evolution, compounded by the absence of care due to smaller family structures, has transformed hospital companion services from a mere "convenience" into a "rigid demand."

From 'errand runner' to 'temporary family'

So, what exactly does a hospital companion do? As the name suggests, their primary role is to accompany patients through their medical journey. Core responsibilities encompass the entire process: registration, appointment check-in, guiding patients to departments, facilitating communication between doctors and patients, handling payments and prescription pickup and accompanying patients during examinations.

However, the value of this profession extends far beyond assistance. In practice, hospital companions often act as "temporary family members." They offer reassurance when patients feel anxious, help jot down key points when doctors explain conditions, and stay by the patient's side during post-operative recovery. This emotional support is particularly crucial for seniors living alone, single young adults and out-of-town patients. Beyond needing help with cumbersome procedures, these individuals crave a sense of security and companionship within unfamiliar medical settings.

Language assistance services and smart solutions for medical appointments

As the demand for medical services among foreign nationals in China grows, the position of hospital companion is undergoing specialization. In highly internationalized cities like Shanghai and Beijing, a hospital companion with foreign language skills is increasingly in demand. They provide language translation services for patients from Europe, the U.S., the Middle East, Japan and South Korea. They help foreign nationals overcome language barriers and understand the operational logic of the Chinese healthcare system to enhance the experience for patients.

Meanwhile, some hospitals are experimenting with technological solutions to enhance the efficiency of patient services. For instance, certain institutions have introduced "smart hospital companion machines" or AI-powered escort assistants. Through real-time location tracking and remote response capabilities, a single escort can simultaneously assist multiple elderly patients, thereby reducing service costs while expanding coverage. Such initiatives signal that patient escort services are evolving toward greater intelligence and scalability.

The path to standardization

As an emerging profession, the hospital companion industry faced numerous challenges in its early stages: inconsistent practitioner quality, a lack of service standards, ambiguous boundaries of responsibility and insufficient privacy protection. To promote healthy industry growth, in July 2024, the Shanghai Senior Care Service Industry Association released two group standards: the "Guidelines for Hospital Companion Practice" and the "Hospital Companion Service Specifications." These documents clearly define the service scope, required skills and emergency procedures for a hospital companion.

Furthermore, on May 22, 2025, the "Hospital Companion Service Development Research Report (2025)" and the group standard "Specifications for Geriatric Hospital Companion Services" were released by the China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service, etc at the 11th China International Senior Services Expo. This marks a major step toward accelerating China's hospital companion services into a new phase of standardized, normalized development.

The emergence and growth of the hospital companion profession is a societal response to the problem of "solitary medical care" in the modern era. It is also a tangible manifestation of medical humanism, guided by policy. It allows the elderly navigating the digital wave with difficulty, young people striving far from home with little support, and foreign nationals crossing borders for medical help to feel a glimmer of warmth within the often impersonal healthcare process.