To analyse the settings of sub-campus of public hospitals directly under the National Health Commission, so as to provide research reference and suggestions for further promoting the scientific and standardized construction of sub-campuses of public hospitals.

Data before August 30, 2022 were collected from the official websites of the hospitals in question including their introduction, overview, navigation, news and other categories of information.Relevant literatures on multi-campus published by hospitals under the direct management of the National Health Commission were obtained from the China National Knowledge Network, which was identified by searching the keywords " sub or multi-campus hospital" with " author affiliation", using such search conditions as " MeSH major topic" or " title/keywords/abstract" of the studied hospitals in advanced search builder. Descriptive analysis and frequency analysis were conducted on the numbers, the construction reasons, geographical location, operation scale, characteristics and positioning of the sub-campuses in the studied hospitals.

Of the 44 such hospitals, 30 had a total of 50 sub-campuses in operation. Generally there were two modes of construction. 35 were newly constructed and 15 formed by mergers; 37 sub-campuses were built and put into operation since 2010. Sub-campuses were usually located in the same area of the main campus, with 11 in the same area of the same city and areas, 35 in different areas of the same city, and 4 in different cities; the average geographical distance between the sub-campus and the main hospital campus was 31.18 kilometers; 27 sub-campuses had beds ≤ 500, 12 sub-campuses had beds between 501-1 000, 11 had beds>1 000; 14 specialized sub-campuses and 31 out of the 35 comprehensive sub-campuses clearly indicating their characteristics of specialized departments, and 1 other (research institute areas with research beds).

Future proofing is characteristic of these public hospitals in terms of their sub-campus construction, regional setting, planning and positioning, and functional layout. However, both government regulatory departments and public hospitals should comprehensively consider and make prudent decisions on the planning, investment, demonstration, layout, and other aspects of the construction of sub-campuses of hospitals.

Hospitals, public; Hospitals directly under the National Health Commission; Sub-campus; Current status of settings