“Safe Medical Services for Residents” ... Goseong County Activates Emergency Medical System During Chuseok Holiday

Goseong County in Gyeongnam has designated the two-week period from September 11 to 25 as the Chuseok Holiday Emergency Medical Response Week to minimize inconvenience for residents in anticipation of a surge in emergency room patients during the Chuseok holiday. The county will establish an emergency medical management task force and activate emergency medical and care systems during this period.

Goseong County Office.

The emergency medical management task force will monitor emergency care situations and coordinate with 55 facilities, including regional emergency medical institutions, emergency care facilities, six public health centers, 28 hospitals and clinics, and 17 pharmacies. This system aims to minimize inconvenience for general patients seeking medical care or purchasing pharmaceuticals.

During the Chuseok holiday from September 14 to 18, 47 hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies will participate and operate on designated dates to strengthen emergency medical care and ensure continuous service. The Goseong-eup Health Branch will operate five health clinics, each providing care on different days during the holiday, with services available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Chuseok day itself.

There are two institutions in Goseong County with 24-hour emergency rooms: Kang Hospital and The Joeun Hospital. During the Chuseok Holiday Emergency Medical Response Week, the county will assign a dedicated manager to Kang Hospital, the regional emergency medical institution, to monitor operations and report any unusual situations immediately, thereby minimizing disruptions in emergency care.

Following recent media reports raising concerns about possible disruptions in emergency care due to staff shortages, the county has inspected the two emergency room institutions and confirmed that there have been no cases of patient transfers between emergency rooms, referrals to higher-level hospitals, or related incidents.

The county health center will operate the emergency medical management task force during the holiday. In the event of a mass casualty incident, the center will respond quickly by linking with the provincial and regional emergency information center hotlines. If necessary, the center will assist in selecting hospitals for critically ill patients and coordinating inter-hospital transfers. The Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) from the designated disaster base hospital is also prepared to deploy and set up an on-site emergency medical center.

Information on hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies open during the Chuseok holiday can be obtained by calling 129 (Health and Welfare Call Center), 119 (Emergency Situation Management Center), or 120 (Provincial Call Center). Information is also available through the emergency medical portal, emergency medical information app, Goseong County's social media band, and the county government website.

Shim Yunkyung, the head of the health center, stated, "We will do our utmost to protect the safety and health of residents by strengthening the emergency medical system during the Chuseok holiday." She also advised, "Please check the holiday medical schedule notice, the county website, or the band, and contact medical institutions before visiting to find the nearest open hospital or clinic for convenient care."