Severance Hospital has officially launched operations as the newly designated regional emergency medical center for northwest Seoul.
The hospital held an opening ceremony on Monday to mark the start of its enhanced services for critically ill patients and disaster medical response in the area.
Following the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s 2026 evaluation of emergency medical facilities, Severance Hospital secured this new designation, which will remain in effect for three years until October 31, 2029.
As a regional emergency medical center, Severance Hospital will play a crucial role in providing specialized care for severely ill patients and coordinating disaster medical responses within its service area. The center offers comprehensive care, from initial emergency treatment to surgery, hospitalization, and intensive care for patients with time-sensitive conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke.
The facility will serve as the ultimate treatment destination for critically ill and complex emergency patients transferred from local hospitals. It will also spearhead efforts to establish regional emergency medical cooperation systems, conduct training programs, and coordinate disaster medical responses.
Severance Hospital received high marks in the evaluation, particularly for its track record in treating critically ill patients and its advanced treatment capabilities. The hospital excelled in providing necessary surgeries and procedures for severe cases in the emergency room (ER), managing patient transfers between emergency medical services (EMS) and hospitals, and stabilizing critically ill pediatric patients.
This new designation will allow Severance Hospital to further enhance its ability to treat severely ill patients, leveraging its expertise as a top-tier medical center and its robust interdepartmental collaboration.
The hospital aims to streamline the treatment process for patients requiring urgent specialized care, such as those with cardiac arrest, cardiovascular diseases, severe infections, and respiratory failure. The goal is to ensure seamless transitions from initial emergency care to specialized procedures, surgeries, post-cardiac arrest intensive care, and critical care. By optimizing interdepartmental cooperation and internal care coordination, the hospital seeks to minimize treatment delays and continually improve outcomes for critically ill patients.
Severance Hospital is also strengthening its regional patient transfer and referral system. The center will work closely with local EMS and medical facilities to ensure swift and appropriate transfers based on patient severity and treatment needs. This includes improving information sharing about ER and intensive care unit (ICU) availability and expanding inter-hospital consultation and coordination protocols.
In the event of a major disaster or mass casualty incident, the center will serve as the primary disaster medical response hub for northwest Seoul. The hospital’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) will collaborate with fire departments, law enforcement, and public health authorities to bolster the emergency response system, from on-site care to patient transport and in-hospital treatment.
Additionally, Severance Hospital plans to expand training, education, and information exchange programs with local emergency medical facilities and EMS teams, sharing expertise in managing critically ill patients. This initiative aims to reinforce the regional emergency medical safety net, ensuring coordinated responses during both routine emergencies and large-scale disasters.
Dr. Park Yoo-seok, director of the emergency care center, stated that it’s committed to enhancing the care system to ensure rapid and seamless transitions from initial emergency treatment to specialized interventions and critical care. By collaborating closely with local medical facilities and EMS, it aims to provide timely and optimal care for all critically ill patients in the region.
In related news, Severance Hospital was recently recognized as a Leader in AI Innovation in Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2027 ranking, conducted in partnership with global research firm Statista. The hospital earned this distinction for its successful implementation of cutting-edge digital technologies in clinical settings, including AI-powered systems for early detection of patient deterioration and predictive models for cancer metastasis risk.
