Jeonnam National University Hospital Rated 'Excellent' in Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Network Pilot Project

Jeonnam National University Hospital exterior view.

Jeonnam National University Hospital announced on the 24th that it received an excellent rating in the performance evaluation of both the "Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Center-Based Network Pilot Project" and the "Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Human Network Pilot Project," organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This achievement once again demonstrates that Jeonnam National University Hospital, as a regional cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease center, plays a key role in treating severe and emergency cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease patients in the region.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and acute aortic syndrome, are representative severe and emergency conditions where the golden hour is critical to patient survival. If treatment is delayed, not only does the survival rate drop sharply, but the likelihood of complications increases rapidly, making prompt patient transfer, accurate hospital selection, and immediate treatment paramount.

In response, since last year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been operating pilot projects by region to establish an integrated treatment system for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease patients, aiming to reduce the total time to final treatment. The pilot projects are divided into two: the "Inter-Institutional Network Pilot Project," which focuses on an organic collaboration system among medical institutions, and the "Human Network Pilot Project," which connects patients to the most appropriate hospital quickly through real-time information sharing among medical staff.

The "Inter-Institutional Network Pilot Project," led by Jeonnam National University Hospital, centers around the regional cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease center and involves five major local medical institutions-St. Carollo Hospital, Mokpo Korea Hospital, Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju Christian Hospital, KS Hospital-as well as the Gwangju and Jeonnam Fire Departments. Together, they have implemented a one-stop system that covers patient triage, transfer, and treatment.

This system enables the fire department to classify suspected cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease patients in real time and quickly transfer them to the most suitable medical institution, ensuring that patients receive immediate treatment upon arrival. As a result, delays and confusion that previously occurred during patient transfers have been minimized, contributing to improved patient survival rates and treatment satisfaction.

Additionally, the "Human Network Pilot Project" allows medical staff to directly participate in a network to exchange information in real time when a patient’s condition is critical and transfer is necessary. This enables the selection of the hospital best equipped to provide rapid and appropriate treatment. The system has proven particularly effective in emergencies such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and acute aortic syndrome-conditions where time is of the essence. It has reduced unnecessary transfers between hospitals and improved continuity of care.

In this evaluation, Jeonnam National University Hospital scored a high 97 points in the "Inter-Institutional Network Pilot Project" category. As a result, it will receive post-support funding equivalent to 120% of the project budget from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the hospital also received an excellent rating in the Human Network Project, securing additional support. With this secured budget, Jeonnam National University Hospital plans to expand the scope of the projects and further enhance the system, providing faster and safer medical services to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease patients.

Jung Shin, President of Jeonnam National University Hospital, stated, "This achievement is the result of the dedication of all medical institutions, fire departments, and medical staff in Gwangju and Jeonnam, united in their commitment to saving patients’ lives. We will continue to strengthen the network to shorten the final treatment time for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease patients and improve treatment outcomes, doing our utmost to ensure that local residents receive optimal care within the golden hour."

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