Government: "Emergency Room Medical Staff Shortage Due to Resident Doctor Attrition"
Preventing Severe Emergency Care Gaps Through 'Rotating On-Call System' Operation
The government will deploy military doctors and public health doctors to Kangwon National University Hospital, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, and Ewha Mokdong Hospital, which are experiencing disruptions in emergency room operations, starting from the 4th. Regarding the current emergency room vacancy situation, it emphasized that "this is a crisis situation caused by the emergency medical system triggered by the mass resignation of residents in February" and stated that "it is not at the level of emergency medical collapse."
On the 11th, as collective actions by doctors, centered around residents, continue, a patient is entering the emergency room at a secondary general hospital in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
On the 3rd, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said at the daily emergency medical briefing, "Starting from the 4th, we plan to additionally deploy military doctors to Kangwon National University Hospital, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, and Ewha Mokdong Hospital so that emergency rooms can resume normal operations as soon as possible," adding, "To prepare for the operational restrictions at Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, we will deploy military doctors to Chungbuk National University Hospital and public health doctors to Chungju Medical Center to minimize disruptions in medical care."
He continued, "The emergency rooms at Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Kangwon National University Hospital, and Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital are operating on reduced hours, and one institution plans to operate on reduced hours," and explained, "Ewha Mokdong Hospital limits night-time treatment every Wednesday but will operate normally during the Chuseok holiday."
Regarding Ajou University Hospital, which recently announced treatment restrictions, he said, "Gyeonggi Province has decided to support Ajou University Hospital with 1 billion KRW for personnel expenses," and added, "I understand that military doctors are also included in the dispatch target tomorrow, and the government will take all possible measures to help normalize the situation quickly."
The Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that the military doctors to be deployed on the 4th include 5 at Kangwon National University Hospital, 3 each at Ajou University and Ewha Mokdong Hospitals, and 2 each at Chungbuk National University and Sejong Chungnam National University Hospitals.
Vice Minister Park also rebutted the claim of 'emergency medical collapse,' noting that the average daily number of emergency room visitors has recently decreased and the number of emergency medicine specialists has increased.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, before the collective resignation of residents (first week of February), the average daily number of emergency room visitors was 17,892, which increased to 19,783 in the third week of August, then decreased to 17,701 in the fourth week of August, and further dropped to 16,423 in the fifth week of August. In particular, mild and non-emergency patients classified as levels 4?5 under the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) numbered 8,285 during normal times, increased to 8,541 in the third week of August, then decreased to 7,566 in the fourth week of August, and further declined to 6,967 in the fifth week of August.
The Ministry explained that 406 out of 409 emergency rooms, accounting for 99%, are operating 24 hours a day. As of the previous day, 5,925 emergency medical institution beds were in use, which is 97.6% of the usual 6,069 beds.
Vice Minister Park said, "Currently, some emergency medical institutions are struggling to maintain normal treatment levels due to the departure of medical staff and reduced response capacity," but added, "However, we judge that the situation has not reached the level of emergency medical collapse as some have described." He also mentioned, "There are some voices predicting a surge in emergency medical institutions closing down in the future," but added, "During the emergency response week for the Chuseok holiday, we plan to minimize public inconvenience through measures such as operating on-call hospitals and clinics and increasing medical fees."
Regarding criticisms that surgeries and procedures for severe emergency diseases are being restricted in many places, he argued, "Restrictions on treatment for severe emergency diseases are not newly occurring but are long-standing issues caused by a shortage of essential medical personnel." According to the Ministry's data, among 180 emergency medical centers nationwide, the number capable of performing thoracic aortic surgery has decreased from 72 during normal times to 69 as of the 2nd; the number capable of treating infant intussusception and obstruction has decreased from 93 to 83; pediatric endoscopy centers have decreased from 15 to 14; and emergency obstetric delivery centers have decreased from 96 to 91.
The government plans to reinforce personnel at these emergency medical institutions and use a rotating on-call system to prevent gaps in severe emergency care.
Vice Minister Park said, "The government will promptly improve health insurance fees to prevent personnel outflow and support the maintenance of follow-up treatment capabilities," adding, "We will provide personnel expenses to medical institutions that require monitoring and support substitute personnel such as military doctors to institutions that truly need them." He also explained, "We regularly survey emergency medical resources for five diseases?acute aortic syndrome, pediatric acute abdominal disease, emergency obstetric diseases, bronchial hemorrhage and foreign bodies, and emergency vascular diseases?and organize and operate a nationwide 365-day rotating on-call schedule."
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