Province hosts joint symposium Friday on improving critical patient transport and transfer
Experts gathered Friday to explore ways to build a self-sufficient emergency medical system in South Chungcheong Province, focusing on faster patient transport and appropriate treatment within the region.
The province held a joint symposium for responsible medical institutions at Baekje Education and Culture Center at Kongju National University, with about 150 participants including officials from regional and local responsible medical institutions, public health and medical support teams, and provincial and municipal government representatives.
Held under the theme "The Present and Future of Building a Self-Sufficient Emergency Medical System," the symposium brought together emergency medicine experts from Dankook University Hospital, regional and local responsible medical institutions, public health and medical support teams, the National Emergency Medical Center and Seoul National University Hospital to discuss ways to strengthen the regional emergency medical system.
Presentations covered the establishment of a medical imaging sharing platform among South Chungcheong Province's responsible medical institutions, an introduction to the Seoul-area emergency transfer network project, and the need to build a community-level emergency medical system.
Participants examined cases of medical imaging sharing between institutions and emergency patient transport and transfer networks, highlighting the importance of inter-institutional information sharing and cooperation to ensure the swift transport and appropriate treatment of critically ill emergency patients.
A panel discussion followed on ways to activate community emergency medical networks to secure the golden hour for critically ill emergency patients.
The province plans to continue working with Dankook University Hospital, four regional public medical centers — in Cheonan, Gongju, Seosan and Hongseong — and Nonsan Baekje Hospital to strengthen the foundation of essential regional medical care and develop cooperative measures for building a self-sufficient emergency medical system.
Kwon Min-sik, head of the province's health policy division, said securing timely treatment for critically ill emergency patients requires not only the capabilities of individual medical institutions but also a cooperative framework spanning patient transport, transfer and definitive care. "We will do our utmost to strengthen coordination among regional and local responsible medical institutions so that residents can receive emergency care with confidence without leaving the province," he said.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
