First day of ‘once a week shutdown’ at Chungnam National University and Wonkwang University Hospital… normal medical treatment

It was found that most professors at Chungnam National University Hospital and Wonkwang University Hospital, who were scheduled to take mass leave on the 26th, continued outpatient treatment as usual.

The emergency response committee of Chungnam National University Hospital and Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital said, “We judged that the mental and physical fatigue of professors had reached its limit after experiencing a two-month medical crisis,” and added, “As an emergency committee, we decided to close every Friday starting from the 26th.” It was announced on the 22nd.

However, as we decided to close every Friday instead of just one day on the 26th, outpatients and hospitalizations on Fridays may gradually be reduced in the future. An official from the emergency committee at Chungnam National University Hospital said, “Usually, to adjust the outpatient treatment schedule, you have to start 3 to 4 weeks in advance, and it is similar for surgery.” He added, “Most professors start by not seeing new patients for the first time or scheduling new surgeries on Friday, and gradually reduce the size of the outpatient clinic. “Most people are planning to leave,” he said.

Wonkwang University Hospital also decided at an emergency committee meeting on the 17th to ‘suspend surgery on the 26th and close on Fridays thereafter.’ On this day, outpatient treatment at Wonkwang University Hospital was carried out normally, but there is a possibility of disruption from the 3rd of next month.

Both hospitals plan to continue providing treatment and surgery for seriously ill and emergency patients even when they are closed on Friday.

Meanwhile, the National Medical School Professors’ Emergency Response Committee will hold its 9th online meeting this afternoon with the agenda of ‘once a week closure’.