Daedong Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare Respiratory Specialized Clinic Remodeling Expansion Opening Ceremony

Designated as the First 'Dedicated Clinic' Among General Hospitals in Busan Region Last December

Enhancing Treatment Efficiency by Separating Patient and Medical Staff Routes to Block Droplets

Daedong Hospital held a remodeling and expansion opening ceremony for the 'Respiratory Specialized Clinic' designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and has officially begun its operation.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Daedong Hospital (Director Park Kyung-hwan) completed the remodeling and expansion construction of the Respiratory Clinic, a specialized clinic for respiratory and fever patients on the first floor of the main building, and held an opening ceremony on the 22nd.

To prevent COVID-19 infection, only a minimal number of people attended the opening ceremony, including Director Park Kyung-hwan, Respiratory Medicine Department Head Shim Eun-hee, and Department Head Lee Kyu-min, to celebrate the expanded opening.

In his congratulatory speech, Director Park Kyung-hwan announced plans to expand facilities and equipment by the second half of 2021 and develop the clinic into a specialized respiratory treatment center in cooperation with the Department of Otorhinolaryngology.

The Respiratory Clinic designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare was promoted to prepare for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the simultaneous outbreak of respiratory infectious diseases such as colds and influenza in winter, to minimize treatment gaps for respiratory and fever patients, and to protect medical staff and institutions from infection.

Daedong Hospital was the first general hospital in the Busan area to be designated as a ‘Respiratory Clinic’ in early December last year.

Daedong Hospital’s Respiratory Clinic secured a separate entrance and separated movement paths considering the risk of infection transmission with surrounding facilities. It is equipped with facilities and supplies for infection prevention in each area, including reception, waiting room, examination room, and radiography room, along with ventilation requirements and droplet blocking capabilities.

The construction, which began in mid-December, expanded and reorganized the existing treatment, waiting, and examination spaces, improving the treatment environment to maintain patient waiting distances for infection prevention.

Additionally, the expansion resolved the shortage of waiting areas, treatment rooms, and examination spaces, and established a system to integratively operate the tuberculosis counseling room and respiratory treatment room, alleviating inconveniences for respiratory patients.

In particular, new chest X-ray equipment essential for treating respiratory patients was introduced, and dedicated spaces for imaging and diagnostic tests were created to minimize patient movement. Movement paths were separated from non-respiratory patients to create a safe hospital environment free from infection.

To address concerns about respiratory infections, a non-heated inhaler treatment exclusive negative pressure booth and a respiratory patient transport exclusive negative pressure stretcher were introduced, expanding treatment areas for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Respiratory Clinic Department Head Shim Eun-hee said, “Through this remodeling and expansion construction, convenience and treatment efficiency have greatly improved,” adding, “In the future, by complementing the Respiratory Clinic and the respiratory patient inpatient ward, we will be able to provide specialized respiratory treatment services for pneumonia, COPD, bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and more in a better environment.”