Although the medical science in Korea has experiencd remarkable development, both qualitatively and quantitatively, since its introduction at the beginning of the 20th century, its main focus has been on the expansion of spcialized treatment and
medical
care in general. However, the fast-paced economic development that started in the 1960'' has caused substantial increases in cerebrovascular disease and coronary artery disease while the industrial development and in creased use of means of
trasportation have resulted in the rapid rise of incidents in external injuries. Consequently, the public has become acutely aware of the need for fast and effective emergency transpotation and treatment. Such awareness also stems from the side
availability of medical care which is now established as a basic citizen's right as a result of the national medical insturance system that started in 1977 and was fully implemented in 1989.
In response to the public demand for effetive emergency treatments, kthe health care sector has been making serious efforts to deliver better emergency treatments by expanding the emergency facilities and newly offering emergency training
programs.
Several hospitals have alrealy commenced training programs in order to provide personnel specially trained in that area. The emergency medicine requires not only specialitzed training in the emergency treatment but also knowledge and experience
in
other
related areas ; furithermore, an effective training program in emergency should be designed in order to adapt to the specific nedds or the Koreans, as based on epidemiological studies of the nature of emergency cases, its distribution in the
population
by ages and nature of injury, admission ratio, death rates, etc. currently prevailing in Korea.
The present research has been carried out by the Korea university Hospital in preparation of the commencement of the emergency training program in 1994. The research consists of analysis of the emergency cases admitted in the Emergency center of
Korea
University Hospiatl from January 1992 to December 1992, its distribution, nature, and statisties regarding admission.
Based on our research and our review of other available literature on the subject, we make the following suggostions regarding the specializqed training program for emergency treatment.
1. The trainees must be required to be also trained in the areas of internal medicine surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics.
2. The training in internal medicine should inchlude gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular medicine and nephrology whicw the training in surgery should include general surgery, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery.
3. The program should provide training for effective and accurate reading of the radiology.
4. The trainees should be required to participate in actural emergency treatment activeities in order to have opportunities ot acquire practical skills as sell as theoretical knowledge.
5. The program should include course in medical management which would be necessary for effective managent and administration of emergency centers and facilities.
6. The continued development of the program would require extensive studies and researches supported by the academic associations of medicine.
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