Endocrinology and Metabolism Faculty / Medical Staff >

As the standard of living and medicine improves, the aging population is growing, and endocrinologic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis are becoming increasingly important. The Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Samsung Medical Center has a lot of accumulated experience in the diagnosis and treatment of such endocrinologic diseases, and provides efficient care to patients through an organic collaborative treatment system with other departments.

Major areas of treatment / Clinics

In the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Medicine, we diagnose and treat abnormalities in hormone function and various diseases of the hormone secretory or target organs.
In other words, we treat abnormal hormonal functions or tumors of the pituitary glands, adrenal glands, thyroid glands, gonads, parathyroid glands, and the endocrine pancreas. Other representative diseases we treat are diabetes, which presents with polydipsia, polyuria, and high blood glucose; obesity; hyperlipidemia; thyroid diseases, such as functional abnormalities of the thyroid gland, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer and osteoporosis, in which the risk of fractures is increased due to the weakening of the integrity and strength of bones due to qualitative changes in the microstructure.

Strong points

In the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism we run a diabetes center with an integrated medical care system to treat diabetes with severe complications, such as eye or kidney complications, and go beyond diagnosis and treatment to provide patients with reinforced customized education programs from a team of diabetes experts including endocrinologic physicians, nurses, nutritionists, an exercise therapist, pharmacist, and social workers, to grant them the ability to control diabetes by themselves.

Diagnostic tests

We provide tests to diagnose various endocrinologic diseases, and run an endocrinologic laboratory to test for diabetic complications and endocrinologic hormones at the patients’ convenience.

Latest treatment methods

Comprehension of patients’ glucose patterns using continuous glucose monitoring and patient-customized insulin injection training are provided in the outpatient clinic, and up-to-date treatment of various endocrinologic diseases are actively given.

Recent trends in clinical research

In the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Samsung Medical Center, we conduct many international clinical trials, and possess a world-class animal lab and air-conditioning equipment to aid in active research on the pathogenesis of endocrinologicdiseases and appropriate treatment methods regarding the pathogenesis.

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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.