By Kim Se-jeong
Samsung Medical Center (SMC) will refurbish its emergency room and limit the number of visitors for patients in an effort to prevent another infectious disease from spreading there and to ensure the safety of patients.
SMC’s director Song Jae-hoon said Wednesday that the hospital will spend almost 50 billion won to build necessary infrastructure and facilities.
The measures follow the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak earlier this year when the hospital became the second epicenter of the epidemic. During the outbreak, more than 80 people contracted the disease at SMC, and it was said that allowing visitors without control at hospitals contributed to the quick spread of the disease.
“We are certain that this move will ensure patients’ safety and improve the quality of treatment,” Song said during a media briefing.
The hospital will allow only one person per patient in the emergency room and require visitors to book their visits in advance.
The emergency room will be divided into two sections, one for patients with infectious diseases and another for other patients.
The SMC said it will also enlarge the size of the emergency room by 1.6 times. It built 11 negative-pressure isolation rooms in the emergency room after the MERS outbreak, and it will set up at least 10 negative-pressure isolation rooms additionally by March.
“We are aiming for patients in the emergency room to see a doctor within 30 minutes of their arrival. And within six hours, they will know whether they will stay longer in the hospital or go home,” the director said.
He said the hospital will spend almost 41 billion won on developing a MERS vaccine. The work will be done in cooperation with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). “The IVI will be responsible for developing the vaccine, and Samsung will cover the cost for the next five years,” Song said.
The MERS epidemic killed 36 Koreans. On Monday, the government announced its own reform measures, in which the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have a full control in response to future infectious disease outbreaks.