Seoul Eunpyeong Hospital Opens Dedicated Treatment Ward for COVID-19 Positive Patients with Mental Illness

Opening of a Dedicated Treatment Ward with Negative Pressure Facilities for Patients with Mental Illness
Treatment Available for Respiratory and Psychiatric Symptoms in COVID-19 Positive Psychiatric Emergency Patients

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Metropolitan Eunpyeong Hospital announced on the 8th that it has established a ‘COVID-19 Dedicated Treatment Ward for Patients with Mental Illness’ and has begun full-scale treatment. Eunpyeong Hospital completed facility renovations for the dedicated treatment ward on the same day and has been admitting new patients since the 25th of last month, intensifying COVID-19 treatment specifically for patients with mental illness.

In a situation where there are no hospitals available for psychiatric emergency patient admissions, Eunpyeong Hospital has played a central role in emergency admissions, and with the opening of this 'COVID-19 Dedicated Ward,' treatment for emergency psychiatric patients confirmed with COVID-19 has become possible.

Previously, Eunpyeong Hospital established an immediate response system to prevent the spread of cluster infections in private psychiatric hospitals. Since October 2020, it has operated an 80-bed emergency isolation ward to accommodate close contacts from seven private psychiatric hospitals. By operating emergency isolation wards with varying levels of infection prevention, it has contributed to blocking hospital-originated chain infections and enabling continuous treatment in a safe environment for psychiatric patients.

Compared to general patients, psychiatric patients have more difficulty communicating and complying with quarantine rules, and treatment beds for psychiatric emergency patients who pose a risk of self-harm or harm to others after testing positive for COVID-19 are absolutely insufficient compared to general patients. Psychiatric patients treated in closed wards after testing positive for COVID-19 are in a so-called ‘potential infection state,’ where chain infections continue during the asymptomatic incubation period. These patients live in group settings and open spaces with poor personal hygiene awareness, creating a special environment vulnerable to infection control.

The COVID-19 Dedicated Treatment Ward for psychiatric patients at Eunpyeong Hospital is staffed by four specialists in internal medicine, family medicine, and neurology, along with 14 nurses and 10 administrative officers. It has a total of 10 beds and a separate intensive observation room. Negative pressure facilities have been installed in each room to treat psychiatric patients in a safe environment without the risk of airborne or droplet infection.

Additionally, the ward is equipped with mobile X-ray machines, electrocardiogram monitoring devices, and oxygen therapy equipment. Each room has a call bell and a central control system installed to minimize contact between patients and medical staff, allowing the medical team to safely treat patients while continuously monitoring their health status.

Director Nam Min said, “As a key municipal hospital to prevent the spread of cluster infections among confirmed psychiatric patients, we will do our best as a public medical institution by operating a COVID-19 dedicated ward that safely treats infectious diseases and simultaneously provides inpatient care for emergency patients at risk of self-harm or harm to others, leaving no blind spots.”

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