Critical Care Medicine Faculty / Medical Staff >

The department of critical care medicine is fully devoted to taking care of patients in the intensive care unit by establishing a 24-hour duty system of board certified doctors in charge of critical patients from various departments, and is prepared 24 hours, 365 days a year to take care of patients in the intensive care unit and acutely deteriorated patients in the ward. SMART stands for Samsung Medical Alarm Response Team, and is a team of medical experts in intensive care that provides early optimal care for inpatients when their state suddenly deteriorates. It is an important patient safety system of the hospital, as medical care is provided by an expert within 10 minutes through an extension hotline if the state of a patient deteriorates or changes, 24 hours, 365 days a year regardless of their department.

Major areas of treatment / Clinics

Medical care in the intensive care unit
Critical patient transfer team
ECMO(Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) specialized team
Critical patient rehabilitation team

Strong points

1. The only hospital in Korea operated through a multidisciplinary critical patient care team

2. Twenty-four hour medical care by the residing board certified doctor of the department of intensive care medicine in case a patient acutely deteriorates in the intensive care unit or the ward

3. A hospital promoting the happiness of patients and caretakers through free visiting times

For the psychological stability of the patients and their caretakers, we allow visits in the intensive care unit 24 hours a day except for emergencies or if necessary for treatment. As the family is included as a part of the treatment the patient forms trust for the treatment, and caretakers can manage their time more freely, which in turn promotes the happiness of patients.
By modifying the perception of caretakers for the medical personnel giving care to patients 24 hours a day, it is a good opportunity to create mutual understanding and share sympathy between them.

4. Contribute to the public interest through the first critical patient consultation system in Korea

5. Systematic training of medical personnel taking care of critical patients through a newly established critical patient education team

6. Cooperative education and establishment of research infrastructure

Latest treatment methods

1. Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring and management, and Early mobility (ABCDE) :

A basic treatment protocol for patients in the intensive care unit by minimal use of sedatives to maintain consciousness, attempt self-respiration, and actively check for and treat delirium, to allow early rehabilitation treatment.

2. Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO):

Acute cardiac failure: Indicated to all acute severe cardiac failure patients including severe myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and stress-induced cardiac failure.
Acute respiratory failure: It can be applied when the patients’ lungs are not functioning well due to various causes including acute respiratory failures due to viral or bacterial infections, toxins, and burns.
Patients waiting for cardiac or lung transplantations

3. ICU early rehabilitation:

We start mobilization of critical patients within 24 to 48 hours of admission into the intensive care unit to reduce the occurrence of somasthenia and mental disorders from post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and to improve the long-term prognosis.

Recent trends in clinical research

Clinical research in the intensive care unit: We are leading the field of research in critical patient care including sepsis, mechanical ventilation, ECMO, and critical patient rehabilitation, and are actively presenting relevant clinical research based on the excellent clinical results of ECMO treatment through a multidisciplinary approach, with the best and most results in this field in Korea. We have proved the safety and raised the possibility of the introduction of critical patient rehabilitation into the country through our first research in this field in Asia, and also reported results on rehabilitation during ECMO treatment.

Departments List

Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

Patients' Rights

1. Right to receive medical care

Patients have the right to receive proper care in a safe setting without discrimination nor should their right to care be violated regardless of their gender, age, religion, social status, nationality, language, race, or physical/mental/financial status. Medical teams shall not refuse to provide care without justifiable reason.

2. Right to be informed and to make an autonomous decision

Patients have the right to obtain full and complete information from their medical team, to ask questions, and to determine their agreement or refusal concerning: diagnosis, treatment (purpose, plans and methods), outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes), discharge plan, participation in medical research studies, organ transplantation/donation, etc. Within ethical boundaries, patients may discontinue or refuse treatment, request that the medical team explain and suggest alternative treatments, and reserve the right to make their own decisions.

3. Right to confidentiality

Patients' rights to confidentiality regarding their physical/health status and privacy will not be violated. Patients can expect that all medical records/reports and their personal privacy will be kept confidential unless the patient has given consent or disclosure is permitted by law. To ensure their privacy, patients may be informed that Individuals not directly involved in their care may not be present and that the number of guardians accompanying patients to consultation rooms may be limited.

4. Right to request consultation and mediation

In the event of a medical dispute, patients may request consultation and mediation from an internal or external agency (Korea Consumer Agency, Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency).

5. Right to have values and beliefs respected

Patients will not be discriminated against because of their culture, religious values, or beliefs, and their rights will not be violated.

6. Right to receive care in a safe setting

Patients have the right to receive hospital-provided care where the patient’s medical information is protected and patient safety can be assured. In addition, patients have the right to be protected from possible dangers that can occur in a hospital and to have stability of mind and body.

Patients' Responsibilities

1. Responsibility to trust and respect the medical team

Patients must accurately inform the medical team of their health condition and must trust and respect the medical team's treatment plan. Patients may be responsible for consequences that result from not following instructions.

2. Responsibility to not use dishonest methods for medical treatment

Patients must reveal their identity before receiving any medical care and must not use false or dishonest methods, such as seeking medical care under disguised ownership.

3. Responsibility to abide by all hospital regulations

Patients are expected to treat all hospital staff and other patients with courtesy and respect; to abide by all hospital rules; and to earnestly fulfill their financial obligation to the hospital. Also, patients and their family members are expected to participate in all safety regulations.