South Korea Tackles Delivery Shortages with "Group Chat" Healthcare Model

In Gwangju, South Korea, a critical 'transfer inquiry' came in at 1:31 AM on May 3rd for a high-risk pregnant patient in critical condition due to preeclampsia. The regional maternal and child health center at Chonnam National University Hospital immediately accepted the patient, who arrived by ambulance at 3:16 AM from Gwangyang, over 100 kilometers away. The patient underwent an emergency Cesarean section, delivering a healthy baby weighing 1140 grams, who is now recovering in the neonatal intensive care unit. The center's director, Kim Jong-woon, stated that without this swift acceptance, the mother and newborn could have faced life-threatening risks during transport to another region.

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If our hospital had not accepted the patient (from Gwangyang), she might have faced a life-threatening situation for both mother and newborn due to convulsions during transport to another region.

The Chonnam National University Hospital's center operates as the frontline for high-risk deliveries in the Honam region, working 24 hours a day. Its operational model, which includes regional healthcare institution collaboration and utilizing specialized doctors from local delivery hospitals, has been reflected in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's recent measures against "delivery뺑뺑이" (a term for being shuttled between hospitals due to lack of available beds).

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The hotline is not a grand system but a 'group chat.'

In Jeonnam Province, 86.4% of its 22 cities and counties are designated as 'delivery medical vulnerable areas' due to a lack of local delivery facilities. Despite these challenging conditions, the center has focused on collaboration. A 'hotline' system, essentially a group chat, was established in April last year as part of a government pilot project for maternal medical cooperation. This system connects the regional center, specialized treatment institutions (Chosun University Hospital and Hyundai Women's and Children's Hospital), and ten delivery institutions.

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If there is no NICU, high-risk pregnant women being treated must be sent to other hospitals for delivery.

Nurses at the center manage the group chat around the clock, handling an average of 39 transfer inquiries per month. This digital communication allows for quicker decisions on patient transfer locations compared to individual phone calls. The center is staffed by four obstetricians and five neonatologists, many of whom trained at Chonnam National University Hospital and chose to settle in the region. Two local obstetricians also work part-time, contributing significantly. The support from secondary-level regional hospitals, like Hyundai Women's and Children's Hospital in Suncheon, which has had a NICU since 2014, is also crucial. This collaborative approach, fostering an environment where doctors can gain valuable clinical experience in high-risk deliveries, is vital for maintaining professional pride and ensuring the best possible care for mothers and newborns.

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It is important to create an environment where obstetricians can work with pride by gaining experience in high-risk deliveries.