Hospitals - Galbijim

This article is a primer on dealing with hospitals and medical services in Korea. If you are specifically reading this page to look for English-speaking medical services, then please visit our article on Hospitals with english-speaking staff or our list of english-speaking medical professionals, sorted by medical practice, in our Medical Care article. If you don't find what you're looking for, then please be sure to also check the appropriate Wiki Discussion pages or ask for help in our forums. If you need immediate translation assistance, call BBB Korea at 1588-5644.

1 Hospitals 병원
2 Hospitals of Oriental Medicine 한방병원
3 Public Health Centers 보건소
4 Using Hospital Services 병원 이용
5 Ordinary process of examination at a hospital 일반적인 진료순서
6 In case you are admitted for treatment 입원의 경우
7 Talking About Your Symptoms 증상 표현
8 Medical Department by Symptom 증상별 진료과목
9 Purchasing Pharmaceuticals 약 구입
10 Dial 119 Emergency 긴급시는 119
11 Emergency Treatment Centers by Area

[edit] Hospitals 병원

There are both general hospitals (jonghap byeongwon 종합병원), and private practices (ilban byeongwon 일반의원). General hospitals are able to treat many ailments; they have the latest medical equipment, the most medical personnel, and ample hospital beds. Still, the large number of people seeking medical attention means that you may have to wait a long period of time before being seen by medical personnel. Private practices, on the other hand, have usually two or three doctors specializing in either internal medicine (내과) or pediatrics (소아과) for example, and see only persons needing that kind of medical attention. These can be convenient because they are closer to home and there is less of a wait.

[edit] Hospitals of Oriental Medicine 한방병원

Hanbang byeongwon (한방병원) are hospitals that treat patients with Oriental medicine. People go to these hospitals particularly when they feel pain, their body feels disjointed, or are feeling physically weak. Herbal medicine (한방) and acupuncture (침) are used in treatment. Herbal medications use plant, animal, and mineral ingredients from nature with only simple processing.

Acupuncture is a form of treatment that uses long needles. There are nine types of needles, known as the Nine Needles (9침). The needles are applied to the skin and muscles at varying depths to stimulate the blood vessels.

[edit] Public Health Centers 보건소

These are public medical institutions. Cities, counties (군), and city districts (구) all have public health centers (bogeonso 보건소__________), and rural areas have smaller scale facilities called“ treatment centers”(jillyoso 진료소). They offer light treatment and are inexpensive, and tuberculosis testing (결핵검진), blood pressure examination (혈압측정), and blood testing (혈액검사) is free of charge. There are regular check-ups(정기검진) and preventive shots (예방접종) for infants. Centers sometimes offer classes on nutrition and health issues.

[edit] Using Hospital Services 병원 이용

University hospitals and other general hospitals have superior facilities, but the number of people seeking medical attention means there are crowds at the reception window. Even when you have been through reception, you may have to wait hours to be examined. This is why for light symptoms such as colds, it can be more convenient to go to a private practice that is in your neighborhood. When you think it best to go to a general hospital, treatment or admission is easier if you go through the process of making reservations.

[edit] Ordinary process of examination at a hospital 일반적인 진료순서

Present your medical insurance card (의료보험증) at the reception counter and explain your condition.

Take the treatment card (진료카드) given you by the reception counter and take it to the window of the department you are sent to, then wait.

Go to the examination room (진찰실) when your name is called and be examined.

After being examined or treated, go to the cashier window (회계창구) and pay the treatment fee (의료비).

Take the prescription (처방전) written you by the doctor and go to a pharmacy outside the hospital to purchase the needed pharmaceuticals.

[edit] In case you are admitted for treatment 입원의 경우

There are cases where you may be required to make a financial deposit (보증금) or have someone (보증인) guarantee your ability to pay when you are admitted to the hospital for testing (검사), treatment (치료), or surgery (수술).

There are some kinds of hospital rooms not covered by medical insurance, for example, rooms that are not shared and have only one bed.

[edit] Talking About Your Symptoms 증상 표현

머리가 아픕니다. (meoriga apeumnida) My head hurts.

가슴이 답답합니다. (gaseum dapdap hamnida) My chest feels tight.

열이 있습니다. (yeori isseumnida) I have a fever.

한기가 납니다. (hangi namnida) I feel chills.

심장이 두근거립니다. (simjangi dugeungeorimnida) My heartbeat is irregular.

현기증이 납니다. (hyeongijeungi namnida) I feel dizzy.

저립니다. (jeorimnida) I feel numb.

몸이 나른합니다. (momi nareun hamnida) My body feels fatigued.

몸이 뻐근합니다. (momi ppeogeun hamnida) My body feels sore all over.

숨이 찹니다. (sumi chamnida) I’m having a hard time breathing.

배가 아픕니다. (baega apeumnida) My stomach hurts.

식욕이 없습니다. (sigyogi eopseumnida) I’ve got no appetite.

구역질이 납니다. (guyeokjiri namnida) I feel nauseated.

설사를 합니다. (seolsa hamnida) I’ve got diarrhea.

목이 아픕니다. (mogi apeumnida) My throat hurts.

천식입니다. (cheonsigimnida) I’ve got asthma.

코피가 멈추지 않습니다. (kopiga meomchuji anseumnida) My nose won’t stop bleeding.

귀가 아픔니다. (gwiga apeumnida) My ear hurts.

관절을 삐었습니다.(gwanjeoreul ppieoseumnida) I’ve sprained a joint.

손가락을 삐었습니다. (songarageu.l ppieoseumnida) I’ve sprained my finger.

뼈가 부러졌습니다. (ppyeoga bureojeosseumnida) I’ve broken a bone.

붓기가 가라앉지 않습는다. (butgiga garaanji anseumnida) I’ve got swelling that won’t subside.

경련을 일으킵니다. (gyeongnyeon ireukimnida) I’m experiencing convulsions.

생리불순입니다. (saengni bulsun imnida) I’ve got an irregular period (menstruation).

입덧이 심합니다. (ipdeosi simhamnida) I’m experiencing a lot of morning sickness.

허리가 아픕니다. (heori apeumnida) My waist hurts.

이가 아픕니다. (iga apeumnida) My tooth/teeth hurt(s).

잇몸이 아픕니다. (inmomi apeumnida) My gums hurt.

입몸에서 피가 납니다. (inmomi apeumnida) My gums are bleeding.

[edit] Medical Department by Symptom 증상별 진료과목

Internal medicine (내과) : cold symptoms (fever, headache, coughs, etc), diarrhea (설사), diabetes (당뇨).

External medicine (외과) : surgery (수술/시술)

Orthopedics (정형외과) : joint ailments (관절질환), bone fractures (골절) (after auto accidents)

Dentistry (치과) : toothaches (치통), teeth-related ailments (치주질환)

Ophthalomology (안과) : eye troubles (눈병)

Obstetrics and Gynecology (산부인과) : Childbirth (출산), womens health issues (부인과 질병)

Pediatrics (소아과) : Ailments particular to children (소아질환)

E.N.T. (이비인후과) : Ailments relating to the ears (귀), nose (코), and throat (목).

[edit] Purchasing Pharmaceuticals 약 구입

Because Korea has separate legal definitions for the professions of doctor and pharmacist, prescriptions (처방전) must be issued by doctors, and these are then filled out by pharmacists. This means that before purchasing medicine, you must be seen by a doctor. Pharmaceutical products for the treatment of headaches,

digestion problems, and minor pains, and other minor ailments may be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.

[edit] Dial 119 Emergency 긴급시는 119

Call 119 if someone is suddenly stricken ill or seriously injured. An ambulance will arrive and take the person to the hospital, and the cost is free. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has designated emergency medical treatment facilities pre-specified in each area that are relatively advanced in personnel, equipment, and facilities.