Andong Hospital Further Strengthens Lifeline Network in Northern Gyeongsangbuk-do

24/7 System for Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Emergency Care
Responding to Gaps in Essential Medical Services

Andong Hospital, operated by the Andong Medical Foundation, is further strengthening its role as a “lifeline hospital” in northern Gyeongsangbuk-do by advancing essential medical functions in obstetrics, pediatrics, and emergency care.

Andong Hospital Doctor Helicopter Takes Off
Photo by Byungkeun Kwon

Northern Gyeongsangbuk-do is considered a representative medically underserved area where long-distance travel for mothers and pediatric patients has become routine due to a decline in childbirth infrastructure and limited access to healthcare. Amid this structural gap, Andong Hospital has maintained a 24/7 childbirth response system since being designated as a base medical institution for childbirth-vulnerable areas in 2022, serving as a key pillar in the region’s medical safety net.

In particular, the hospital has established a collaborative care system, with anesthesiology and pediatric staff working seamlessly alongside the obstetrics department to provide a stable childbirth environment even in emergencies. Going beyond basic medical treatment, Andong Hospital operates a “crisis response childbirth system” at all times, playing a vital role in preventing the collapse of local childbirth infrastructure.

The pediatrics department also minimizes gaps in regional healthcare through its 24-hour care system. Even at night and on holidays, specialist-led care is maintained, with a structure capable of immediate response to acute illnesses and emergencies. This is especially significant, given that any delay in treatment for pediatric patients can quickly become life-threatening.

Andong Hospital’s presence in the emergency medical field is equally prominent. Centered around its Regional Emergency Medical Center, the hospital can accept critically ill emergency patients 24 hours a day, maintaining dedicated response systems for trauma and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions to ensure the golden hour is secured. By operating a doctor helicopter, the hospital is also responsible for transporting patients from remote mountainous areas, effectively supporting a large-scale emergency medical network.

Additionally, the hospital is accelerating efforts to build a “comprehensive local medical system” by operating a regional dental clinic for the disabled and providing integrated medical services that connect rehabilitation, long-term care, health checkups, and chronic disease management. This is highly meaningful in terms of regional healthcare balance, as it allows patients to access essential medical services without having to travel outside the area.

Regional Emergency Medical Center Emergency Operating Room
Photo by Andong Hospital

Continuous investment is also being made in the training of medical professionals. Since being designated as a training hospital in 1991, Andong Hospital has partnered with Severance Hospital of Yonsei University to operate internship and residency programs, simultaneously strengthening both the expertise and retention of local medical personnel. This serves as a vital pillar supporting the local healthcare ecosystem, particularly as the concentration of medical resources in the Seoul metropolitan area intensifies.

This essential medical system is maintained through a dual structure of government funding and the hospital’s own investments. Andong Hospital prioritizes its public mission over profitability, continuously expanding essential medical functions and focusing on protecting the right to life of local residents.

Chairman Kang Sinhong stated, “Essential healthcare is not a choice, but the survival infrastructure for the region,” adding, “We will further strengthen our role as a base hospital so that residents of northern Gyeongsangbuk-do can receive timely medical services, wherever they live.”

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