The Frontline of Saving Lives 24/7
Growing as the Core of the National Disaster Medical System
The Andong Hospital Regional Trauma Center (Director: Kim Hyoyoon), which has established itself as the key hub for severe trauma care in the northern Gyeongbuk region, is celebrating its 7th anniversary.
Since being designated as a regional trauma center by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2018, Andong Hospital has played a pivotal role on the front lines of saving the lives of emergency patients.
The Andong Hospital Regional Trauma Center has established an optimized infrastructure for severe trauma care, including a 24-hour emergency transport system connected to a doctor helicopter and 119 ambulances, a trauma specialist on standby at all times, and a dedicated treatment area exclusively for severe trauma cases.
Over 100 specialists in trauma-related fields?including emergency medicine, trauma surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and thoracic surgery?are working together through multidisciplinary collaboration to improve patient survival rates.
Director Kim Hyoyoon explained, "We operate a full-cycle treatment system for trauma patients, covering initial response, surgery, intensive care, and rehabilitation. As our clinical experience accumulates, key medical indicators such as survival rates and emergency surgery times are steadily improving."
Since the center opened, a total of 8,946 severe trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 9 or higher have been treated. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the preventable mortality rate for severe trauma patients has dropped significantly from 29.4% to 15.5%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the regional trauma center system.
Andong Hospital is also expanding its role as a response system for industrial sites and national events, leveraging its severe trauma care capabilities.
Recently, the hospital signed business agreements with companies such as LG Electronics and Hyundai Engineering & Construction to jointly respond to industrial accidents, establishing a rapid transport and emergency care system utilizing doctor helicopters in the event of workplace injuries.
The hospital is also conducting trauma prevention education and industrial safety campaigns, presenting a new disaster response model based on cooperation between enterprises and medical institutions.
Notably, Andong Hospital has been designated as an official partner hospital for the emergency medical support system for the '2025 APEC Summit,' and will serve as a core hospital in the national emergency medical system for international events. This recognition highlights the hospital's expertise in trauma care and emergency response capabilities, both domestically and internationally.
Chairman Kang Sinhong of Andong Hospital stated, "Andong Hospital has served as the central pillar of the regional safety network for severe trauma, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and emergency medicine. Beyond bridging regional healthcare disparities, we are committed to fulfilling our mission as a hub for national disaster medical response and international healthcare cooperation."
In addition to the regional trauma center, Andong Hospital operates several nationally designated centers, including a regional cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease center and a dedicated emergency medical helicopter service. As the central institution for integrated emergency, trauma, and cardiovascular care in northern Gyeongbuk, the hospital is leading the way in regional public healthcare.
Establishing an optimized infrastructure for severe trauma care, including a 24-hour emergency transport system, a trauma specialist on standby at all times, and a dedicated treatment area exclusively for severe trauma cases.
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