Konkuk University Medical Center and its ... - Korea IT Times

u-hospital
A Long-Term Plan - Construction of a New
Wing for the Big 5 Cancers, Heart Disease,
Cerebrovascular Disease
A task force has been devising the new plan for construction of
a similar-sized building next to the existing one. The scale of the
new building will be 6,600 square-meters of floor space with 13
floors above ground and 6 underground. Construction of the new
building is slated to begin in 2012 and be completed sometime in
2015. The design of the new wing includes an additional 800
beds. The new building will become home to specialized clinics,
research and treatment facilities for care-givers who specialize in
the big five cancers (lung, breast, bowel, stomach and prostate),
heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. To provide better-quality
service and sustain a comfortable environment for a growing
number of patients, who are suffering from severe illnesses, the
new building will create much needed space. Their efforts to improve
the hospital in this way will set them apart from other existing
university hospitals in Korea. The improved facility will feature
a bridge between the new tower and the existing one, as well
as a tunnel between the two, so that patients and staff members
won't have to brave the elements when the need arises to travel
from one building to the other. These conduits between old and
new will also serve to maximize efficiency of resource management.
“The westernization of the Korean lifestyle and a soaring
population of older people are contributing to the escalation of serious
illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease and cerebrovascular
diseases,” said Paik Nam-sun, President of Konkuk University
Medical Center. “Specialization in these fields is necessary for us
to be more competitive,” he added.
A Short-Term Plan
Until the new wing is completed, space must be utilized as efficiently
as possible. Konkuk University Medical Center has created
additional space. Since last year, they have expanded surgery
rooms and related facilities and the health care center. They were
also able to establish new VIP rooms on the 12th floor and the
KU Gallery. They have remodeled the lounge for outpatients, relocated
the administration office and professors’ offices. The
rapid increase of patients, however, is making the solution for
supplementation necessary, thus the center drew up short-term
and long-term expansion plans, which are either under way or, in
some cases, completed.
Expansion of the space for outpatients
The expansion of space for outpatients is planned to begin in
the second half of the year and last for approximately 6 months.
At present, one additional floor is scheduled to be built , as well as
a roof-top garden on the 4th floor, which will bring 1300 squaremeters
of extra space. An endoscopy room, which has various
kinds of state-of-the-art equipment used for evaluation and diagnosis,
is going to be established in this space. To enhance accessibility,
two more elevators, that will be designated for use exclusively
for egress to and from this area, are going to be installed.
Rearrangement of Doctor’s Offices
Currently, half of the second floor is being used as a digestive
organ center and an endoscopy room This space will be converted
into surgeons’ offices and a dedicated area for performing specialized
care for gastric, colon, liver and biliary tract diseases.
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