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Busan’s Emergency Transport System for Acute Drug Intoxication Patients Takes Hold: 325 Patients Connected to Treatment in Three Months

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that the “Two Track Turn System (TTTS)”—Busan’s emergency transport system for acute drug intoxication patients introduced for the first time this year—has been operating stably in the field and delivering visible results within three months of implementation.

The project is overseen by the city and the Busan Emergency Medical Support Group, with participation from the Busan Fire & Disaster Headquarters and 11 emergency medical institutions.

Among them, four institutions serve as severe-case treatment centers—Dong-A University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, and Inje University Busan Paik Hospital—while seven institutions serve as mild-case treatment centers: Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Daedong Hospital, Dongnae Bongseng Hospital, Busan St. Mary’s Hospital, Busan Medical Center, Good Gang-An Hospital, and Good Samsun Hospital.

According to the city, during the 79-day operation period from January 12 to March 31, a total of 325 patients with acute drug intoxication were promptly transported to medical institutions and received treatment through the system.

This included 172 severe cases and 153 mild cases, with an average of approximately 4.1 patients transported and treated per day.

In particular, the system has been evaluated as reducing situations in which patients previously had to search for hospitals due to repeated refusals of admission or transport delays.

The system enhances the efficiency of the emergency medical delivery system by classifying medical institutions into a severe-treatment group (Group A) and a mild-treatment group (Group B) according to patient severity, and transporting patients sequentially within each group for treatment.

Mild patients are first treated at Group B institutions and, if necessary, are promptly transferred to Group A, while severe patients are transported directly to appropriate hospitals from the outset.

Through this approach, the concentration of patients in emergency rooms has been reduced, and a system that distributes the treatment of severe and mild patients on-site is now functioning effectively.

In addition, the city is not limiting its efforts to emergency treatment but is also linking patients to post-treatment care.

Patients classified as being at risk for mental health issues at emergency medical institutions are connected to mental health welfare centers in 16 districts and counties, where they can continue receiving counseling and treatment.

This is meaningful in that a follow-up management system is also in operation to prevent recurrence and ensure continuous treatment.

Furthermore, through the first supplementary budget in March, the operational foundation of the project has been further strengthened, and based on operational results and accumulated cases, the city plans to actively pursue conversion to a nationally funded program.

The city will hold a meeting of participating institutions today (17) to share first-quarter operational results and pursue system improvements reflecting on-site feedback.

At the meeting, related organizations including the city, the Fire & Disaster Headquarters, and emergency medical institutions will participate to discuss improvements in the transport and acceptance process and measures to enhance operational efficiency.

Cho Gyu-yul, Director General of the Citizen Health Bureau, stated, “This sequential treatment system goes beyond the introduction of a simple policy and is meaningful in that it is actually functioning in the field and improving delays in patient transport,” adding, “We will continue to refine the emergency medical system based on data and build a more robust emergency medical safety net that citizens can truly experience.”