If Treating COVID-19 Patients, 'Incentives'... Government to Reflect in Emergency Medical Institution Evaluations

Incorporating COVID-19 Patient Care Share in Emergency Medical Institution Evaluation
Improving Emergency Patient Transport System

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] To provide incentives to emergency medical institutions that have accommodated COVID-19 patients, the government has decided to reflect the 'COVID patient treatment share rate' in the evaluation of emergency medical institutions.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 23rd the 'Measures for Rapid Response to COVID Emergency Patients' containing this information.

Accordingly, the 2022 emergency medical institution evaluation will include the COVID patient treatment share rate. The Emergency Medical Institution Evaluation Committee has been reviewing detailed matters such as the criteria and evaluation indicators for calculating the COVID patient treatment share rate from the 21st until today, and plans to inform emergency medical institutions nationwide of the finalized details. The evaluation period for emergency medical institutions in 2022 is from July 1 of last year to June 30 of this year, and on-site evaluations will take place from August to October.

This measure reflects field concerns that some emergency medical institutions have avoided treating confirmed COVID-19 patients, making it difficult to promptly transfer emergency patients.

Additionally, the government has instructed local governments to establish emergency transfer principles that reflect regional circumstances. Since there are disparities in COVID-19 beds and emergency medical resources by region, it was judged difficult to apply a unified emergency transfer principle for home treatment patients nationwide. Each region is forming an emergency consultative body including three main entities: local governments, regional fire headquarters, and emergency medical institutions to establish emergency transfer principles. So far, 10 metropolitan cities and provinces have completed the formation of these consultative bodies. The government plans to share related information through a hotline and continuously monitor the progress.

Previously, the government has improved policies in various ways to respond quickly to COVID-19 emergency patients. To increase the capacity of emergency rooms to accommodate COVID patients, a cohort isolation zone fee for suspected patient treatment areas was newly established in January. Also, to increase the turnover rate of emergency room beds, COVID patients staying in emergency rooms are allowed to be admitted to the hospital itself, and if self-admission is difficult, the Central Emergency Medical Center situation room supports transfers (hospital moves).

For patients judged by the metropolitan and provincial patient management teams to require ultra-emergency transfer due to symptoms such as respiratory distress or decreased consciousness, the Central Emergency Medical Center situation room has been instructed to find and inform the transfer emergency medical institution.

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