41% of regional emergency medical centers under intensive monitoring

The Ministry of Health and Welfare reports that 41% of the nation’s regional emergency medical centers are under intensive monitoring due to challenges in maintaining two or more full-time specialists. These centers are top-tier emergency departments located in high-level general hospitals or those with more than 300 beds, where critically ill patients receive treatment.

As of Thursday, the Ministry is closely monitoring the emergency rooms at 25 hospitals nationwide, according to data provided by the Ministry and Representative Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party of Korea. This includes two additional hospitals—the National Medical Center and the Catholic University of Korea's Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital—which were added overnight. "We are now monitoring 25 hospitals, with the remaining institutions to be overseen by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety through local governments starting today," said Park Min-soo, Vice Minister of Welfare, during a Thursday briefing on emergency medical care.

The emergency departments under monitoring are those considered "at risk," where the number of emergency physician shifts is nine or fewer or is expected to drop below nine. This makes it difficult to ensure that at least two physicians are on duty at all times. The medical community generally agrees that a minimum of 10 specialists is required in an emergency department.

The 25 hospital emergency departments currently being monitored include 18 regional emergency centers and seven community urgent care centers. This means that 18 out of the country’s 44 regional emergency medical centers (41%) are under intensive monitoring.


박경민 기자 mean@donga.com