On October 12, the Ministry of Health and Welfare officially selected Ajou University Hospital as a designated trauma center. Wonju Severance Christian Hospital was conditionally selected.
According to Yonhap News, both Ajou University Hospital and Wonju Severance Christian Hospital have been chosen to serve as trauma centers to reduce treatment gaps for critically injured patients requiring complex surgeries or specialized trauma care.
Designated trauma centers are responsible for treating patients with severe injuries, including those needing complex surgeries or specialized trauma care, such as pediatric or facial injuries.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that trauma centers will actively accept critically injured patients who cannot be accommodated in certain regions, utilizing emergency medical helicopters to provide definitive care. This expanded role distinguishes trauma centers from regional trauma centers.
Currently, critically injured patients are prioritized for transport to regional trauma centers according to emergency patient transport guidelines established by local governments, with regional emergency medical centers supporting and complementing the treatment of these patients.
Regional trauma centers specialize in treating severe injuries resulting from incidents like traffic accidents, while regional emergency medical centers provide emergency medical services to critically ill patients.
This initiative aims to ensure timely treatment for critically injured patients, including those who are severely injured and difficult to accommodate in certain regions. Between July 20 and August 31, six institutions applied from 17 regional trauma centers nationwide.
The two selected hospitals will receive a total of up to 7.71 billion won, which includes 5.46 billion won for facility and equipment upgrades and 2.25 billion won for the installation and operation of helicopter landing pads.
Wonju Severance Christian Hospital was selected on the condition that it supplements the annual staffing plan proposed by the evaluation committee and implements the staffing plan by the end of this year.
Lee Jung-kyu, director of public health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "By selecting trauma centers, we aim to strengthen the responsibility for treating severe trauma cases and establish a robust medical safety net that ensures timely treatment for critically injured patients anywhere in the country."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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