Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital Achieves Zero Hospital-Acquired Infections...Recognized as a Model for COVID-19 Prevention

All 362 medical staff and patients tested negative after the first confirmed case... Following last November's influenza outbreak, hospital infection control measures like mask-wearing were implemented... Collaboration with Eunpyeong District Office and community strength led to 'disaster leadership'... Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital's flexible organizational culture supported this effort

Director Lee Ji-seon

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] A hospital staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Amid concerns about in-hospital infection, additional confirmed cases and the potential collapse of the local healthcare system have caused inevitable confusion. A hospital that overcame this crisis and became a clean hospital is now a hot topic.

Lee Mo (25, female), an employee at Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital located in Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung), was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 25th of last month. Following this news, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital immediately closed its outpatient and inpatient wards, and Eunpyeong-gu conducted emergency disinfection of the hospital and the confirmed patient's movement routes, sending text messages to a total of 1,057 hospital visitors to guide them to screening clinics.

Subsequently, a total of 362 people, including 258 staff members including medical personnel who had contact, 55 inpatients, and 49 guardians and caregivers, underwent COVID-19 testing. All results came back negative.

The chemistry between Eunpyeong-gu and the hospital shone. The Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center urgently provided diagnostic kits for specimen testing to facilitate rapid testing, and the municipal Seobuk Hospital in the area also cooperated by supplying diagnostic kits.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Government formed a COVID-19 countermeasures headquarters, enabling joint responses from various institutions including Seoul City, Eunpyeong-gu, the hospital, and the foundation. As a result, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital reopened on March 11, returning to normal operations.

The response of Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital, which had no additional confirmed cases, holds significant implications for infectious disease responses in hospitals related to COVID-19. It shows that if infection control activities are systematically conducted and rules are well followed, infectious disease responses can be prevented.

Kim Chang-bo, head of the Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital COVID-19 Seoul Countermeasures Team (representative of the Seoul Public Health Medical Foundation), said, “Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital is a specialized hospital for people with disabilities with many close contacts, so the risk of COVID-19 spread was very high, but it is a model case where no in-hospital infection occurred.” He added, “Communication between the hospital director and staff was smooth, and the entire hospital worked as one in infection control. The hospital staff promptly reported symptoms to their superiors and underwent specimen testing early, creating a free atmosphere that helped prevent the spread,” citing the relaxed hospital atmosphere as a key factor in preventing in-hospital infection.

Lee Ji-sun, director of Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital who led the zero in-hospital infection, recalls that the situation on the 25th of last month was an ultra-emergency. Director Lee immediately halted all patient treatments and closed the hospital. A Seoul City situation room was set up inside the hospital, and with cooperation from the Eunpyeong-gu Public Health Center and municipal Seobuk Hospital, rapid specimen testing was conducted for patients, staff, and guardians.

Rehabilitation medicine involves close-contact treatment, characterized by one-on-one care and many patients sharing the same space, which poses a high risk of infection. However, since the influenza epidemic alert in November last year, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital has prepared for infectious diseases by mandating masks for all staff and providing masks to patients. In terms of staff management, even mild colds restrict work, prioritizing strict safety rules, which greatly helped in responding to COVID-19.

Since the hospital is located throughout Eunpyeong-gu, cooperation was always good, but it shone even more during the disaster situation. In a situation where everyone was inevitably sensitive, the district office and public health center responded very cooperatively. Before lifting the hospital closure, Mayor Kim Mi-kyung visited, providing supplies and connecting support from various institutions, making the power of the Eunpyeong community felt.

Director Lee said, “The Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital COVID-19 Seoul Countermeasures Team was formed and held daily meetings to devise measures. The leadership of the task force during the disaster was a great help in normalizing the hospital.” She emphasized, “Looking at this incident, there is a need to further activate public healthcare and strengthen expertise to face infectious diseases that can occur at any time in the future.”

Angels Haven Foundation delivering COVID-19 relief supplies at Eunpyeong Rehabilitation Center, visited by Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, and monks from Jingwansa Temple.

The risk of infection in the local community has not yet disappeared. If hospitals collapse, infectious diseases become even more frightening. However, residents can worry less thanks to the COVID-19 response of Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital in Eunpyeong, which adds safety upon safety.

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