Busan city said it has finalized the selection of two regional trauma base hospitals through a nationwide public contest and designation process, the first such move in the country. The hospitals selected are Centum General Hospital and Joeun Samseon Hospital.
A regional trauma base hospital is a local hub medical institution that handles initial assessment and stabilization when a severe trauma patient occurs. As needed, it works with a regional trauma center to ensure continuity of care.
The base hospitals handle initial response for trauma patients by operating a trauma-priority resuscitation room, dedicated staff, and a 24-hour response system. Afterward, based on the medical team's judgment, the regional trauma center takes over patients who need complex surgery or intensive care.
The selection was pursued as part of a pilot project to build a Busan-style regional trauma care system. Busan city carried out a public call for medical institutions to structurally address emergency room refusal and secure the golden hour for trauma patients.
Busan city will provide each of the two selected medical institutions with a project budget of 400 million won. The funds will be used to build a 24-hour trauma response system, focusing on securing and operating dedicated medical personnel for trauma patients.
Park Heong-joon, the Busan mayor, said, "Regional trauma base hospitals are a core foundation for securing the golden hour that determines trauma patients' survival rates," and added, "We will continue to strengthen cooperation among fire services, medical institutions, and regional trauma centers to create an emergency medical environment where citizens can receive treatment quickly and safely."