New Medical Consultation System for COVID-19 Patients in Seoul

As of today, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a new system to provide medical consultations for patients waiting for hospital beds after testing positive for COVID-19. This initiative aims to address the anxiety and urgent situations that may arise during the waiting period.

During a recent COVID-19 briefing, Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-Hyeop emphasized the importance of this system. He stated, “We will prepare for the anxiety and emergencies that patients might face while they wait for a hospital bed.” The Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital will operate this bed waiting medical consultation system.

Following the tragic deaths of two confirmed COVID-19 patients in Seoul before they could be transferred to hospitals, the city has prioritized preventing such incidents. To ensure patients receive timely assistance, the city plans to provide remote medical consultations for those waiting for hospital beds.

A team of 20 specialists from various fields, including infectious diseases, respiratory medicine, psychiatry, and emergency medicine, will be available for these consultations. If patients experience severe symptoms or emergencies while waiting for a bed, they will receive immediate emergency care.

Currently, the city operates 11 living treatment centers for mild or asymptomatic patients, expanding to a total of 2,227 beds. Additionally, the city has secured 1,437 beds across 19 community treatment centers.

In a related effort, the city entered into a cooperative agreement with Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital and PuzzleAI to manage patient care effectively concerning COVID-19.