Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital becomes ‘military-specialized General Hospital’

Providing university hospital levels of treatment for injury, infectious diseases, and more

Korean Armed Forces Trauma Center to open in early 2020

Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital has officially become a ‘military-specialized general hospital,’ raising the level of treatment it provides for high-frequent and special diseases such as trauma and infectious diseases to university hospital-class levels. As well, by working in collaboration with Seoul National University in Bundang, the hospital plans to open ‘Korean Armed Forces Trauma Center’ in early 2020, as a place where severe trauma patients can go for the final stages of their treatment. These initiatives are part of the ‘2017-2021 Military Healthcare Development Plan,’ which was announced by the Ministry of National Defense on January 19.

In this plan, the MND is focused on improving its medical treatment capacity. The aim is to address the persistent doubts regarding military medical care due to the military's relatively insufficient treatment ability, despite its remarkable achievements in the areas of infectious disease prevention, early diagnosis of disease and evacuation thanks to multilateral efforts to enhance military medical care.

The MND cited some of the core problems related to its medical system which have repeatedly been pointed out by outside consultants: ▲loss of the so-called "golden hour" for treatment due to delays at medical unit in trauma treatment area, ▲age of military medical facilities and equipment, ▲lack of treatment capacity in the area of trauma treatment, ▲poor medical personnel, ▲insufficient demander-centered service, etc. Accordingly, the MND selected 7 projects that will be worked on to improve the treatment ability of military medical care and building trust.

First, the MND has made it a principle to minimize the hospitalization period in medical unit, under division class with low level of treatment when patient occurs from 21 days to 3. If patients occur, they are planned to be taken to the military hospital immediately instead. Together with the reorganization of the military structure, the 17 military hospitals operating as of now would be reduced to 13, but led by elite personnel to ensure efficient treatments are still given by enhancing their treatment ability.

In particular, the capacity of the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital to treat high-frequency and special diseases will be raised to university hospital-class levels. To accomplish this, the MND has secured funds for the establishment of a new Korean Armed Forces Trauma Center, which will open early in 2020, with preparations starting next year. Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital is strengthening its facilities, personnel and equipment to serve as a back-up hospital for the trauma center.

In addition, the MND is planning to replace medics at the military hospital to officers and recruit qualified professional medics in February for the first time in order to eventually eliminate the use of unqualified medics. As well, through improving labor conditions for long-term army surgeons and requiring administrative doctors to provide regular clinical services, it is planning to secure experienced medical human resources. In addition, the MND will establish and operate a ‘patient management taskforce’ at armed forces medical command to provide patients with accurate information like treatment plans and compensation, etc. until the patient has fully recovered. The ‘Military hospital visiting system’ will also be test-operated starting this year, under which duty soldiers can visit the military hospital individually without being accompanied by officers so that patients can receive treatment whenever they want.

An MND official said, “With this proposed plan, patients can get professional and safe medical treatment at the military hospital on time. I’m expecting the treatment level of the military hospital will be upgraded as well.”

By Su-Yeol, Maeng < guns13@dema.mil.kr >
<Copyright ⓒ The Korea Defense Daily, All rights reserved>