Boseong County Implements One-Stop Referral System for Critically Ill and Emergency Patients to Advanced Hospitals

Securing the "Golden Hour"
to Protect Residents' Lives and Health

Boseong County in South Jeolla Province (Governor Kim Cheolwoo) announced on September 1 that, through the one-stop care referral agreement signed in February with Boseong Asan Hospital (Director Choi Byungjin), more than one critically ill patient per month on average has been swiftly transferred to Seoul Asan Medical Center.

Thanks to the agreement between the county and Boseong Asan Hospital, when a critically ill patient in need of treatment at Seoul Asan Medical Center arises, the process from referral to transfer has been greatly streamlined through direct coordination with the Seoul Asan Medical Center Patient Referral Center. As a result, patients' access to and convenience of treatment have been significantly improved, and the quality of local medical services has also advanced to a new level.

Boseong County Public Health Center exterior view.

Previously, Boseong County did not have a specialized neurosurgery department, so patients requiring neurosurgical care had to travel to other regions such as Gwangju or Suncheon. However, since August 1, neurosurgical specialist consultations have become available at Boseong Asan Hospital. This new service is expected to help secure the golden hour in emergencies and contribute to reducing regional disparities in healthcare.

Governor Kim Cheolwoo stated, "Protecting even a single life is the most important role of administration," and added, "We will continue to make every effort to ensure that residents can receive medical services with peace of mind."

The county plans to continue monitoring the number of referrals of critically ill patients to higher-level hospitals and to build a more efficient and comprehensive healthcare delivery system through close communication with partner institutions.