Online Pediatric and Emergency Specialist Consultations Now Available
Pilot Launch of the "Eunggeubttokttok" App Providing Emergency Room Guidance
On July 30, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the pilot operation of two new services for pediatric patients: the pediatric specialist consultation center "Aiansimtock," which provides 24-hour consultations by medical professionals, and the "Eunggeubttokttok" application (app), which offers information on nearby emergency rooms and hospitals or clinics based on users' symptom information.
The pilot project for the pediatric specialist consultation center Aiansimtock aims to provide 24-hour consultations by pediatric and emergency medicine specialists for sudden symptoms in children aged 12 and under. The project is specifically designed to alleviate the inconvenience experienced by pediatric patients during nighttime and holidays and to provide necessary medical information.
When accessing Aiansimtock, users must first undergo symptom classification based on the Eunggeubttokttok app. If the symptom classification indicates that medical treatment is needed rather than consultation, users are guided to call 119 or visit a medical institution. If consultation is deemed sufficient, users can submit inquiries on a one-on-one message board. The consulting medical staff provide guidance on home emergency care, the use of over-the-counter medication, and additional actions based on future symptom changes, referencing the current symptoms and medical history entered for the pediatric patient. This guidance is delivered via message board replies or phone calls. As soon as a response is posted by the medical staff, the guardian is notified via text message or other alerts.
The consultation team consists of pediatric emergency medical specialists from three institutions: Bundang CHA Hospital, Inha University Hospital, and Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital. The team is composed of doctors and nurses who are not only medically specialized in pediatric care but also excel in communication and empathy with guardians during consultations.
This project will be operated on a pilot basis until next year. After collecting feedback from users and consultants and incorporating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), it will be expanded into a full-scale program after 2027.
The Eunggeubttokttok app is designed to help the public use emergency rooms rationally and conveniently by providing information based on symptom data entered directly by users. Through pilot operation until the end of this year, the app will undergo operational evaluation, including user feedback and satisfaction surveys, and its features will be further improved for full-scale operation starting next year.
The symptom classification system used in the app was developed based on KTAS (Korean Triage and Acuity Scale) and reviewed by a committee of emergency medicine professors. Depending on the severity of symptoms classified from user input, the app guides severe cases to visit the emergency room, while mild cases are directed to nearby hospitals or clinics and provided with self-care emergency information. Additionally, the app provides real-time medical facility information such as departments, availability, and bed status for hospitals, Dalbit Children's Hospitals, and emergency rooms based on the user's location.
The information provided by Aiansimtock and the Eunggeubttokttok app may vary depending on changes in symptoms between the time of use and the time of hospital visit. This information is for reference only and cannot replace direct diagnosis and judgment by medical professionals. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to continue improving the services by reflecting user feedback during the pilot phase.
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