[Interview] "A Hospital That Protects the Golden Hour, the Power Safeguarding the Community"

Kang Sinhong, Chairman of Andong Hospital
Presenting a New Model for Locally Complete Essential Healthcare

"If we do not protect it, patients will lose their golden hour." This phrase, repeated throughout the interview, most accurately captures the identity and direction of Andong Hospital.

It reflects a strong determination not to remain merely a regional base hospital, but to become the "final treatment hospital" responsible for the entire life safety network in northern Gyeongbuk.

The value of life should not be determined by where one lives. However, the reality of medical infrastructure often creates such disparities. Andong Hospital's direction is to eliminate these "gaps." The hospital's relentless transformation to save lives on the frontlines clearly demonstrates the path that regional healthcare must take.

◆ "Patients must be able to receive complete treatment locally... This is the reason Andong Hospital exists."

"The core value of Andong Hospital is providing essential, locally complete healthcare," said Chairman Kang Sinhong, making the hospital's identity clear from the start of the interview. Building a 24-hour critical care system centered on emergency, trauma, and cardiovascular fields is the foundation for realizing this identity.

Andong Hospital has established a system that enables immediate treatment of most critical patients in the region through its Regional Emergency Medical Center, Regional Trauma Center, Regional Cardiovascular Center, and doctor helicopter. With over 2,000 staff members and 1,800 beds, the hospital's scale supports its reputation as the "final treatment hospital in northern Gyeongbuk."

"Patients must not lose their lives while being transferred to a major city. Our mission is to protect the golden hour within the region."

◆ 365 days, 24-hour response... "The field of critical and emergency medicine cannot stop"

In situations where even a few minutes' delay is unacceptable, such as severe trauma, myocardial infarction, and stroke, Andong Hospital has played a central role in the regional medical system for years.

Its experience as the final line of defense in the region during infectious disease outbreaks, disasters, and large-scale events was once again proven by serving as the official partner hospital for the 2025 APEC Summit.

Chairman Kang emphasized, "The responsibility of a base hospital is to be prepared without stopping for even a minute, even in crisis situations." This is also why Andong Hospital has been called the "frontline of emergency medicine" for years.

◆ Focused investment in critical and emergency care... "Talent, equipment, and systems are all part of our strategy"

Andong Hospital continues to make aggressive investments to strengthen its critical care capabilities.

Recruiting specialists at the level of major cities, introducing linear accelerators and robotic surgery equipment, and building next-generation medical information systems are all based on the strategy of "selection and concentration" in critical and emergency care.

In particular, the bold move to purchase 66 apartments to provide single-room accommodations for specialists and residents is considered unprecedented for a regional medical institution. "Excellent medical staff are the strength of the hospital. Creating an environment where talent can stay is the starting point for sustainable regional healthcare."

◆ Extending patient experience beyond treatment... "From the moment patients enter the hospital until they return home"

Andong Hospital defines patient experience as "part of the treatment process." Upgrading the reservation system to reduce waiting times, reorganizing in-hospital pathways, increasing guidance staff, and improving ward environments all serve this purpose.

Kindness and job training involving all staff are regularly conducted, and the results of patient experience evaluations are practically reflected in hospital operations.

Chairman Kang stated, "Eliminating patient discomfort is no different from improving treatment outcomes."

◆ From caring for vulnerable groups to global health tours... Expanding the scope of regional healthcare

Andong Hospital has faithfully served as both a supplement and partner to public healthcare in the region. It has carried out various social roles, including free treatment for vulnerable groups, chronic disease management for the elderly in rural and fishing villages, mobile health screenings, and disaster response cooperation with local governments.

Recently, through its U.S. branch, the hospital launched a "health tour program" that combines healthcare with regional tourism, offering a new model. Providing health screenings for Korean Americans and linking visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Hahoe Village and Dosan Seowon, the program also contributes to revitalizing the local economy.

◆ A hospital covering the entire life cycle... "We will foster both public service and expertise"

The future envisioned by Andong Hospital is a "lifelong medical platform" where prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care are seamlessly connected.

Organizational culture innovation is also noteworthy. The system allowing employees to work beyond the retirement age up to 70, competency-based nurse recruitment without interviews, and expanded employee welfare infrastructure are simultaneously attracting talent and improving retention conditions in regional healthcare.

◆ "The model proven in Andong will become the future of regional healthcare in Korea"

Chairman Kang Sinhong's words are not just a vision, but a declaration based on achievements already made, showing the direction regional healthcare must take in the future.

Andong Hospital is establishing a new benchmark for regional healthcare as an advanced base for essential emergency and critical care, as well as a public medical platform responsible for the entire life cycle.

Concluding the interview, Chairman Kang said, "No one should lose access to treatment simply because they live in a particular region. Andong Hospital's challenge will continue." Attention is now focused on whether this transformation, which began in Andong, will become a future model for regional healthcare across Korea, beyond Gyeongbuk.