Mother-Child Intensive Care Center Faculty / Medical Staff >

The Mother-Child Intensive Care Center aims to decrease infant mortality and improve the quality of life by drawing on the expertise of a range of departments including the department of pediatrics, pediatric surgery, pediatric thoracic surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, pediatric urology, laboratory medicine, and radiology, to diagnose congenital anomalies of fetuses before birth, and to provide optimal treatment after birth.

Major areas of treatment

  • High-risk pregnancies: Premature labor, premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, multifetal gestation, etc.
  • Treatment of premature babies
  • Fetal anomalies: Congenital facial malformation, congenital musculoskeletal anomaly, congenital gastrointestinal disorder, congenital urologic disorder, congenital central nervous system disorder, congenital cardiac malformation, etc.

Strengths

Launched in 2012, the Mother-Child Intensive Care Center provides multidisciplinary medical care to address complex congenital malformations, including congenital heart malformations, gastrointestinal disorders, urologic disorders, and cleft lip and palate. Based on this dedicated and interdisciplinary approach, we have managed to increase the survival rate for extremely premature infants (only 23~24 weeks old) to over 80%. Other notable benefits of the Mother-Child Intensive Care Center include the following:

  • A board-certified fetal doctor performs a detailed ultrasonographic examination immediately after preliminary examination.
  • Additional in-depth exams such as amniocentesis, fetal echocardiography, and fetal MRI can be done promptly if necessary.
  • If treatment is necessary after birth, we provide direct consultation with a board-certified expert in the relevant field.
  • We provide prompt, collaborative treatment and exams to minimize the mother’s anxiety and to provide optimal therapy after the baby is born.
  • SMC NICU

Diagnostic exams

  • Obstetric detailed ultrasonographic examination
  • Obstetric amniocentesis
  • Pediatric cardiology – Fetal echocardiogram
  • Radiology – Fetal MRI

1. Latest treatment methods

Surgical results have improved thanks to a better understanding of the pre- and post-operative pathophysiology of diseases.
This has improved preoperative management starting with early diagnosis, intraoperative function of the heart-lung machine, and improved postoperative management.
For most diseases, complete correction is possible when the patient is still an infant, allowing us to avoid multiple palliative surgeries and to decrease complications that can occur before complete correction. For example, the department of pediatric surgery in the Mother-Child Intensive Care Center performs minimally invasive surgery using laparoscopy and thoracoscopy to achieve rapid postoperative recovery and excellent esthetic results. Other diseases can be improved dramatically through fetal therapy, and if the fetal disease improves, no additional treatment may be necessary after birth. Appropriate examination and counseling can prevent unnecessary fetal miscarriages, and lead to the birth of a healthy baby.

2. Recent trends in clinical research

We are currently conducting the world’s first research into cord blood mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the treatment of chronic lung diseases and intraventricular hemorrhages in premature infants. This is also the first time that a clinical study has been conducted on extremely premature infants. Our hospital played a central role in establishing the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), a program whereby data collected from very low birth weight infants born in Korea is put into a clinical trial registry, making it easier for doctors to organize clinical studies on a national level.

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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.