Staffing shortages force temporary reduction in ER hours
Dongducheon city announced Friday that Dongducheon Jungang St. Mary's Hospital, the city's only emergency medical facility, will temporarily shorten its emergency room hours beginning Saturday due to difficulties securing medical staff.
The hospital's emergency room, which previously operated around the clock, will now close at 10 p.m. daily. Patients requiring emergency care after that time will not be able to receive treatment at the facility.
The hospital has been actively recruiting to fill emergency room positions, but intensifying competition among medical institutions for a shrinking pool of healthcare workers has made staffing increasingly difficult, city officials said.
In response, Dongducheon plans to work closely with the Dongducheon Fire Department and nearby emergency medical institutions to strengthen its emergency response system and ensure patients can receive prompt care despite the reduced hours.
A list of nearby emergency medical facilities available for overnight care can be found on the Dongducheon Public Health Center website.
The city has also designated Ondure Saengyeon Pharmacy (37 Jeongjang-ro, Dongducheon) as a public late-night pharmacy to help fill the gap in medical services. The pharmacy provides medication sales and counseling daily from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
"We will work closely with the hospital and do our utmost to secure medical personnel so that the emergency room can return to normal operations as soon as possible," said Shin Ae-ran, head of the health administration division. "We will continue to make every effort to ensure residents can access appropriate emergency medical services with confidence."
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