Research for improvement of the national evaluation program for emergency medical center in Korea
10.5124/jkma.2020.63.4.227
- Author:
Kap Su HAN
1
;
Won Young KIM
;
Su Jin KIM
;
Jinwoo JEONG
;
Hyunggoo KANG
;
Chulung LEE
;
Sung Woo LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Special Contribution
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2020;63(4):227-234
- CountryRepublic of Korea
-
Abstract:
In Korea, the national evaluation program for emergency medical centers (EMCs) was introduced in 2003. EMCs in Korea have three levels of emergency centers including regional emergency centers, local emergency centers, and local emergency rooms. The evaluation system assesses the performance of EMCs at all three levels. The role of both regional emergency centers and local emergency centers administer the final treatment for severe emergency patients, although the definition of severe emergency patients is unclear. These factors may aggravate crowding at the emergency department. The national evaluation system aims to reduce the length of stay in the emergency department. However, reduction of the length of stay at emergency department may cause a conflict with the administration of final treatment for critically ill emergency patients owing to a lack of in-hospital beds. Crowding of the emergency department is not a problem of EMCs but that of the health system. In 2019, the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine performed a study to improve the national evaluation program for EMC and the performance of EMC. Here, we have summarized the results.
