Solving 'ER뺑뺑이' Crisis Requires Urgent Expansion of Essential Medical Personnel

The persistent issue of 'ER뺑뺑이'—the distressing phenomenon where patients are repeatedly transferred between emergency rooms without receiving timely treatment—demands urgent attention and systemic reform in South Korea's healthcare sector. As highlighted in this report, the problem extends beyond initial emergency response, necessitating a robust 'behind-the-scenes' medical system to ensure continuity of care and prevent the loss of critical 'golden hours.'

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Medical staff shortages will continue for another 3-5 years until medical students currently in school become specialists.

At the heart of the crisis lies a severe shortage of medical personnel, particularly in essential medical fields. Statistics reveal that 'personnel shortage' accounts for the vast majority of reasons for emergency medical institutions being unable to accept patients, far surpassing limitations in bed or equipment availability. This chronic issue has been further compounded by the ongoing conflict between the government and medical community, leading to significant disruptions and a widening gap in essential medical services.

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If we just classify patients well, we can reduce the use of personnel. It is crucial to analyze cases of inappropriate transfers and share situations like when a particular hospital could have accepted a patient and why it couldn't, and to establish a medical institution information sharing system that facilitates patient transfers.

Experts like Yang Hyuk-jun, head of the Incheon Emergency Medical Support Group, caution that the shortage of medical professionals will likely persist for at least another three to five years, coinciding with the time it takes for current medical students to qualify as specialists. However, Yang also points to potential improvements through better patient classification, which can reduce the strain on resources, and the establishment of a system for sharing information between hospitals to facilitate smoother patient transfers.

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The current situation is that real-time information on each hospital's ability to treat specific diseases or temporary diversion situations is difficult to reflect on the status board viewed by the ambulance crew. As a result, the structure is such that time is inevitably wasted by making phone calls on site.

Crucially, effective solutions hinge on seamless collaboration between medical facilities and fire departments. The current lack of real-time information sharing—such as a hospital's capacity to treat specific conditions or temporary diversion status—forces emergency responders to waste valuable time making numerous phone calls. Local governments are identified as key players in bridging this gap. By understanding local medical and emergency response capabilities, municipalities can coordinate efforts, share vital information, and develop strategies to ensure that patients reach the appropriate care facilities without delay. Regions like Incheon and Gwangju are already pioneering innovative patient transfer systems, demonstrating the effectiveness of such coordinated, government-led initiatives.

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Local governments, who know the local medical and fire situation best, should organize what can and cannot be done, share information with fire departments and hospitals, and formulate strategies.