International clinics in Beijing

"International clinic" is a colloquial term used by expats in China for a privately owned clinic or hospital that possesses specific characteristics, which separates it from the various domestic healthcare establishments. International clinics are generally much more expensive than public hospitals and will be able to accept non-Chinese insurance. In Beijing, there are a number of such companies, the most prominent being Puhua International Hospital - Shuangjing, Beijing United Family Hospital and International SOS.
Background.
Private medical institutions outside of Traditional Chinese Medicine clinics is a relatively new concept in China with healthcare being synonymous with large public hospitals. Beijing boasts some of the most famous and well reputed medical facilities such as the Xie He, Chaoyang and Tiantan Hospitals.
For expats, the accessibility of these services are limited due to language barriers and a gap between what is given and what is expected of a hospital by western standards. Public hospitals require patients to first take a number (Gua hao), following which they will normally wait several hours to see a doctor. Consultations are generally very short and many expat patients can be surprised at the level of customer service available.
International clinics will offer a similar level of service as one might expect from a private clinic in Europe or the United States and as such is the primary choice of expats in Beijing, particularly those with international health insurance.
General characteristics.
There are a number of common traits that an organization must possess to be considered an International Clinic. An organization does not need to necessarily have all of them to qualify. The most apparent traits are:
Prominent international clinics and hospitals in Beijing.
Puhua International Hospital.
Puhua International Hospital - Shuangjing is located in the Central Business District(CBD) of Beijing, this clinic offers outpatient services to complement the full service Puhua hospital near Temple of Heaven. This clinic is well known for its focus on specialist areas and is famous for Orthopedics, Neurology, Chiropractic, Pediatrics and Gynecology. They have many foreign doctors and most of the staff is fluent in English.
Beijing United Family Hospital.
Beijing United Family Hospital is located in the north east of Beijing, UFH is one of the larger international hospitals with clinics around the city. It is known as the first full-service international hospital established in Beijing but also as the most expensive. It boasts the largest staff roster with many famous Chinese specialists working part-time. UFH also has many expatriate doctors as well as the highest English speaking staff ratio.
International SOS Clinic.
International SOS is primarily a medical evacuation and insurance company but have opened outpatient clinics in several cities. The International SOS clinic offers a range of services in-house and through relationships with other hospitals and clinics. This clinic is famous for its emergency medical services and has relationships with most of Beijing's Fortune 500 companies. They are located in the East of Beijing within the third ring road.