SMC’s Bone Joint Center has built a multidisciplinary treatment system that draws on talent from the departments of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and rehabilitation medicine to tackle musculoskeletal diseases and musculoskeletal involvement of systemic diseases. Our staff includes 12 professors who each have a huge amount of clinical experience in their respective fields. With cutting-edge imaging, medical exercise, neurologic testing, and rehabilitation facilities, we strive to provide world-class diagnostic and therapeutic services for musculoskeletal diseases.

Major areas of treatment

Specialties: Osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis), sports injury, ligamentous injury, fracture, dislocation, musculoskeletal infection, musculoskeletal tumor, avascular necrosis, musculoskeletal congenital anomaly and acquired deformation, peripheral nerve disease

Strengths

Our center is the premier venue for primary and secondary total hip and knee replacement in Korea. We have also developed, researched, and applied Cartistem, a regenerative stem cell agent for arthritis. We have optimized treatment for patients with arthritis by integrating different departments and implementing standardized treatment as well as pre- and post-operative rehabilitation.

Diagnostic methods

The Bone Joint Center diagnoses patients early and accurately to improve medical outcomes and reduce recovery time:

  • Simple X-rays
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Computerized tomography (CT)
  • Whole body bone scan
  • Positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Arthroscopy
  • Nerve conduction study and electromyogram
  • Sports medicine tests

Latest treatment methods

  • Artificial joint replacement
  • Joint regeneration treatment (stem cell arthritis regeneration treatment)
  • Arthroscopic surgery
  • Sports rehabilitation
  • Intra-articular injection
  • Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
  • Robotic artificial joint replacement surgery
  • Osteotomy and artificial joint replacement surgery using navigation

Recent trends in clinical research

By fostering cooperation between industry, academia, and public research, we are improving how we perform artificial joint replacement and implantation. We are also developing next-generation stem cell-based arthritis regeneration agents (adult stem cell and cord blood stem cell), three-dimensional arthroscopy cameras, and robot surgical devices, as well as establishing a system to predict postoperative functional recovery using big data analysis.

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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.