"Separate Care for Respiratory Patients" Visiting COVID-19 'Gukmin Anshim Hospital'

On the afternoon of the 5th, patients are using the COVID-19 Safe Outpatient Clinic at New Goryeo Hospital in Janggi-dong, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] "A patient with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) who intended to visit the hospital showed respiratory symptoms at the hospital entrance and was directed to the screening clinic first, which helped prevent infection within the hospital."

Seong Ha-yeon, a nurse at 'Gimpo New Goryeo Hospital,' designated as a National Safe Hospital, said this on the afternoon of the 5th. A 'National Safe Hospital' is a hospital for the general public concerned about infection, operating a dedicated respiratory disease treatment area (outpatient and inpatient) separated from non-respiratory diseases to block the possibility of infection within the hospital. Nationwide, 254 medical institutions have been designated and operate as National Safe Hospitals.

Gimpo New Goryeo Hospital operates a Safe Outpatient Clinic, Safe Ward, and two screening clinics (including a drive-through screening clinic). From the hospital entrance, patients with respiratory symptoms are guided to the Safe Outpatient Clinic through triage (patient classification). Yoo In-sang, director of Gimpo New Goryeo Hospital, said, "We check travel history, fever above 37.5°C, cough, and other respiratory symptoms at the hospital entrance," adding, "We also operate a separate Pediatric Safe Outpatient Clinic and have a large bus equipped for X-rays."

Im So-yeon, head of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Gimpo New Goryeo Hospital, explained, "Even if an orthopedic patient comes, if they have respiratory symptoms, they are sent to the Safe Outpatient Clinic without exception," and added, "Many patients with hypertension or knee pain also have respiratory diseases, so having the Safe Outpatient Clinic helps filter them."

There is also a Safe Ward dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients separately. The hospital has a dedicated elevator at another entrance for moving to the Safe Ward. Director Yoo explained, "This was originally used as a general ward, but patients were moved to other wards, and it is now used as a Safe Ward," and added, "For severe patients, they can be transferred to university hospitals, which is what small and medium-sized hospitals are doing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.