Kim Young-seol Dean of the medical school of Kyung Hee University

By Kim Tae-jong

What’s the most important element to make a hospital a top-class one? People may say it’s state-of-art medical equipment or skillful doctors.

For Kim Young-seol, dean of the medical school of Kyung Hee University, the answer is rather simple ― the medical staff’s thoughtful care for their patients.

“Doctors should first communicate with patients, fully considering their situation, as a first step to offering quality medical services,” Kim said. “That’s the most important factor that makes a high-class hospital.”

Patients often feel doctors are unfriendly, which consequently makes them think medical services or treatments are unsatisfying, he said.

This is the cover of the Korean translation of a Japanese book titled “The Dignity of Hospitals” by Kim Youngseol. / Courtesy of Kyung Hee University Hospital

Kim suggested that doctors should explain diagnosis and treatment more carefully to patients and offer them detailed yet easy-to-follow advice.

But he believes it is necessary to readjust the medical fee covered by the National Health Insurance to a more realistic level to better facilitate communication between doctors and patients.

“Without the readjustment of medical fees covered by insurance, it’s hard for doctors or hospitals to offer the services that patients expect. The reality is doctors have to treat a lot of patients a day not to face a deficit, which makes it hard for them to communicate with patients fully,” he said.

In this regard, he also thinks it’s time for introspection on the role of hospitals.

He suggests the Korean medical sector can learn valuable lessons from Japan, from which most health care policies and systems in Korea originated.

The neighboring country has also faced serious problems in its medical sectors and came up with solutions, which Kim thinks the Korean medical industry should take a close look at.

For better examination, he has recently translated a book by Koichi Kawabuchi, renowned professor of Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

In the translated book, “Byeongwonui Pumgyeok,” whose title can be literally translated into “The Dignity of Hospitals,” the author suggests various ways to improve medical services, overcoming the difficulties that Japanese hospitals faced.

“Pumgyeok” in Korean and Japanese means the elements that are required to be respected by others, and the discussion of “pumgyeok” is one of the most popular trends in Japan, used in many sectors including the dignity of nation, family, university and corporation.

Kim said hospitals should also consider how to improve it as hospitals make money by taking care of patients, which involves moral aspects.

“The issue of dignity is important, because not only economic aspects but also humane elements should be considered,” he said.

“In the past, hospitals were born from religious organizations but with the advance of modern medical technology, they have become a center for education and research, and have even become a profit organization. Therefore, it’s essential to think of their dignity,” he said.

To maintain dignity, doctors should have professionalism and try to offer thoughtful care for patients.

“The Doctor’s role is not just to prescribe medicine to patients. They always need to work hard to meet the high expectation of patients,” he said.