Infectious Diseases Faculty / Medical Staff >

The Department of Infectious Diseases at Samsung Medical Center seeks to treat and cure patients suffering from infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and tuberculosis. We also aim to foster academic development by doing research and providing education on infectious diseases, and to contribute to domestic and foreign health care by training professionals specializing in infectious diseases.
The field of infectious diseases concerns infections in all parts of the body. Our department is becoming increasingly important as the issue of resistance to various antibiotics emerges, and as the number of immuno-compromised patients increases due to organ transplantations and chemotherapies for cancer. The emergence of new infectious diseases such as AIDS, Ebola virus, MERS, and AI, as well as the re-emergence of diseases that have prevailed in the past, are expanding our roles.

Major areas of treatment / Clinics

Our department treats patients suffering from infections caused by various micro-organisms, patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO), AIDS, and tuberculosis. We diagnose and treat all kinds of infections caused by micro-organisms including respiratory and digestive system infections, urinary tract infections, central nervous system infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and soft tissue infections, as well as sepsis.
We also take care of opportunistic infections in patients who undergo organ transplantation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, immuno-suppressed patients, cancer patients, and combined infections in patients in intensive care, by consultation with other departments and through multi-disciplinary rounds. We provide rapid diagnosis and treatment of fever of unknown origin (FUO), and have introduced up-to-date medication to treat HIV-positive and AIDS patients in Korea.

Strong points

Consultations and collaboration with other departments make up an important part of the Department of Infectious Diseases, and we treat various serious infectious diseases promptly. We support the infection control office in preventing nosocomial infections, co-operate with them in investigating such infections, and make efforts to manage and prevent infections based on these investigations. We also supervise and control the use of antibiotics to an adequate degree, and treat and prevent various contagious diseases within our hospital. We run an adult vaccination clinic for disease prevention and a travel medicine clinic for disease prevention for foreign travelers.

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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.