"Emergency Room Suspension and 5 Scheduled ERs... Bold Support for Essential Medical Staff"(Update)

"Outpatient and Inpatient Volumes at Tertiary and General Hospitals at Normal Levels"

The government announced that it will boldly implement all necessary support to minimize the medical service gaps at five hospitals that have suspended or are planning to suspend emergency room operations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 4th, Park Min-su, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated in a daily emergency medical briefing, "As a result of dispersing patients with mild to moderate symptoms to secondary general hospitals and others, the overall admission volume remains similar to normal times," adding, "We will promptly advance pilot projects for restructuring tertiary general hospitals to ensure smoother and more stable operations on the ground."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's analysis of the follow-up treatment availability at regional and local emergency medical centers displayed on the Central Emergency Medical Center's comprehensive dashboard, as of the previous day (3rd), there were 103 medical institutions capable of treating 27 different diseases, an increase of one institution compared to the day before. This number is six fewer than during normal times (first week of February).

Regarding treatment volume, during normal times, tertiary general hospitals had 33,000 general admissions, and general hospitals had 63,000, totaling approximately 96,000. As of the fifth week of August, admissions at tertiary general hospitals decreased to 25,000, while general hospitals increased to 69,000, resulting in a similar total admission volume of 94,000, according to the Ministry.

For intensive care unit admissions, normal times saw 3,300 at tertiary general hospitals and 4,000 at general hospitals, totaling 7,300. As of the fifth week of August, tertiary general hospitals decreased to 2,900, and general hospitals increased to 4,200, showing levels similar to normal times.

Vice Minister Park explained, "It is true that training hospitals, including tertiary general hospitals with a high proportion of residents, have experienced a reduction in average medical capacity and overall treatment volume following the departure of residents," adding, "Thanks to patients utilizing nearby general hospitals rather than large hospitals, there has been little change in the treatment volumes of tertiary general hospitals and general hospitals."

As of this day, among a total of 409 emergency rooms, 405 are operating 24 hours a day. Of the 409, 27 (6.6%) are operating with reduced bed capacity. Emergency medical institution beds total 5,925, which is 97.6% of the 6,069 beds available during normal times in the first week of February.

Hospitals that have partially suspended or plan to suspend emergency room operations include Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Kangwon National University Hospital, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, and Ewha Mokdong Hospital. The regional emergency medical center at Soonchunhyang Cheonan Hospital operates 24 hours, but its pediatric emergency medical center provides services only three days a week during daytime hours.

Vice Minister Park stated, "Soonchunhyang Cheonan Hospital is currently recruiting pediatric emergency specialists and is striving to resume normal operations promptly," adding, "The government will continuously maintain close communication with individual medical institutions and boldly implement all necessary support to sustain essential medical personnel, including emergency staff."

Meanwhile, starting today, the government has begun the 8th dispatch of military medical officers, assigning 15 of the scheduled 250 personnel to five medical institutions under intensive management. By hospital, this includes 5 at Kangwon National University Hospital, 2 at Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, 3 at Ewha Mokdong Hospital, 2 at Chungbuk National University Hospital, and 3 at Ajou University Hospital. An additional 235 military medical officers will be deployed by the 9th, focusing primarily on emergency medical services.