Gyeonggi Province Mobilizes All Resources to Prepare for Severe Emergency Patients During Lunar New Year Holiday…Emergency Medical Operation Center to Run Feb. 14-18

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] Gyeonggi Province will operate the 'Gyeonggi Province Emergency Medical Operation Center' for 5 days from February 14-18 to ensure residents have uninterrupted access to emergency medical services during the Lunar New Year holiday.

To this end, the province held a video conference of the 'Gyeonggi Province Emergency Medical Cooperation Council' on the 6th, chaired by Senior Vice Governor Kim Sung-joong, with attendance from hospital directors of 9 regional emergency medical centers in the province, and discussed measures for treating severe emergency patients during the holiday period.

During the holiday period, the emergency medical operation centers will operate at a total of 52 locations—one in Gyeonggi Province and 51 health centers in cities and counties. Health centers will share information on open medical institutions daily, and the province will consolidate and manage this information to respond immediately when special circumstances arise.

To ensure dedicated treatment of pediatric severe emergency patients, the southern region's Bundang Cha Hospital and Ajou University Hospital, and the northern region's National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital will maintain 24-hour medical treatment systems with dedicated pediatric emergency personnel stationed in emergency rooms.

Additionally, for treating pediatric minor cases, 51 facilities—including 41 Moonlight Children's Hospitals and 10 pediatric clinics in underserved areas for nighttime and holiday care—will operate with 46 facilities on the day before (16th), 27 facilities on that day (17th), and 48 facilities on the following day (18th). Patients will be informed in advance about closed facilities to prevent inconvenience.

Furthermore, to prepare for high-risk delivery situations such as premature births during the holiday period, 4 regional maternal and infant medical centers and 8 local maternal and infant medical centers will operate 24-hour medical treatment systems to ensure there are no gaps in protection of mothers and newborns.

To enable immediate dispatch in case of disasters or accidents, the response systems of 50 rapid response teams at health centers and 9 disaster hub hospitals will be maintained.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, 2,367 open medical institutions will operate in the province—851 facilities on the day before (16th), 386 facilities on that day (17th), and 1,130 facilities on the following day (18th). This represents a 23% increase compared to the Chuseok holiday (3 days, 1,928 facilities) last year.

Senior Vice Governor Kim Sung-joong of Gyeonggi Province urged, "Through close cooperation between emergency medical institutions, fire services, and Gyeonggi Province, please prepare thoroughly so that severe emergency patients can receive timely treatment even during the holiday period."

Information on open medical institutions during the holiday period can be found through the Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120) and the Emergency Medical Portal (www.e-gen.or.kr). Patients who have suffered damages from refusal of severe/emergency treatment can receive counseling and assistance through the Health and Welfare Consultation Center (129 with no area code).