Proposal for stabilization of regional trauma centers in Korea

From 2011 to 2016, 16 regional trauma centers were designated throughout the country and 9 of the 16 centers have been operating their own trauma facilities. At present, there are some differences in treatment experiences and levels according to the type and size of the trauma centers. Treating the trauma system as a part of emergency medical service, while the field of severe trauma is clearly different from the rest of emergency medical service in particular, has become a serious problem in Korea. First of all, the role of trauma centers should have been established before they are added to the trauma care system. Beyond that, manpower is the most important factor in building a trauma center. Pusan National University Hospital offers the ideal environment for a study on the relationship between trauma centers and emergency centers. Pusan National University Hospital has 2 independent emergency rooms: one each in the trauma center and emergency center. Therefore, it is possible to compare the outcomes of 2 different emergency rooms and identify the proportion of the trauma population who is transferred from the emergency center to the trauma center due to trauma severity index. Ultimately, the government and individual hospitals must support personnel in each trauma centers administratively and financially to sustain trauma centers over the long term. The purpose of this proposal is to suggest some resolutions to the problems associated with the trauma care system in Korea.