Community-Focused Healthcare: The Journey of Gupo Sacred Heart Hospital

• Pursuing hospital management that expands together with the local community

• Maximizing customer satisfaction by propping members' solidarity

• Showing exceptional expertise in spinal joints and internal medicine

Gupo Sacred Heart Hospital opened in Buk-gu, Busan, in May 1983, intending to become a regional hospital that practices an advanced patient-centered medical culture. For the past 40 years, the founder, Chairman Park Hong-Geun, has harbored only one goal to contribute to the health promotion of residents centered on Gupo-dong, where the hospital is located.

The love and attachment to the region were distinctive to Chairman Park Hong-Geun, who was born, raised, and spent his school days in Gupo. The name 'Gupo' in the hospital's name expresses an actual intention to become a hospital for the region and by the region. Gupo Sacred Heart Hospital has been expanding with the region while protecting the area to the extent that it has been developed three times since its opening.

In May 2018, on the 35th anniversary of the hospital's opening, there was an interview with Park Si-hwan, the hospital director, who took office after Chairman Park Hong-Geun. He commented, "As the hospital has developed thanks to the interest and love of residents, I will persist in supporting the founder's will and repaying the gratitude to the local community."

He expressed, "As the highest level of specialized centers in Busan and Gyeongnam, such as the Joint and Spine Center, Cardiovascular Center, Foot Center, Cerebrovascular Center, and Digestive Center, we are proud of our university hospital-level cooperative system."

"We will establish ourselves as a true regional hospital that bolsters the happiness of residents by supplying differentiated medical services," he declared.

- Gupo Sacred Heart Hospital is evaluated to be particularly excellent in the field of spinal joints.

We have established and strengthened specialized centers by presenting the best medical technology for each department and recruiting specialists with the most satisfactory medical technology and the latest knowledge. We have been conducting ongoing research and education through regular conferences for each department. As the hospital commenced as an orthopedic surgeon, we pride ourselves on being the best in the spine and joint field (Chairman Hong-Geun Park and Si-hwan Park are orthopedic surgeons). In particular, the best medical staff delivers treatment at the hospital's subdivided shoulder, knee, and ankle centers specialized in artificial joint surgery.

- I attended that you have considerable expertise in the field of internal medicine.

In the mid-2000s, we started cardiac stenting by opening the first cardiovascular center in Buk-gu, Busan. The heart disease mortality rate in the region has also been significantly diminished through immediate diagnosis and treatment at the cardiovascular center, which is open 24 hours a day. We have been conducting more than 15,000 cases of coronary angiography and more than 5,000 cases of coronary intervention. As a consequence of that effort, we have been certified as a cardiovascular intervention institution approved by the Cardiovascular Intervention Research Society of the Korean Heart Association.

- You are utilizing the largest digestive system center in the region. What is the satisfaction level of the test?

To eliminate the inconvenience of waiting for customers for the digestive system, we have invested in serving more than 1,200 gastroscopy tests per month and 250 colonoscopy tests per month. As a result, in 2019, we obtained the outstanding endoscopy room certification from the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, which certifies the excellence of patient safety and comprehensive medical quality associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy.

- What kind of social contribution activities are you accomplishing for the local community?

We endeavor to sponsor diverse organizations such as the Busan City Hospital Association, Busan District Prosecutors' Office, Pusan ​​Prosecutor's Office, Busan Western Crime Victim Support Center, Busan Children's Children's Shoulder, and the Buk-gu Disabled Person's Association. To grow into a hospital that grows together with the local community, we strive to foster diverse social contribution activities. We recently signed an agreement with the Busan I'Park Soccer Team to count strength to activities to help children with heart disease. We are also attempting to revitalize the sport by serving as the honorary president of the Buk-gu Taekwondo Association.

- What are the blueprint and future of Gupo Sacred Heart Hospital?

The medical environment is becoming increasingly complicated due to the COVID-19 crisis, the hospital industry's constant competition for survival, and the low-price policy. On the other hand, as the level and needs of medical consumers are growing, we are always considering what customers need. Our hospital will do its best to provide advanced medical services based on this reality.

We will devise Gupo Sacred Heart Hospital as a regional base hospital and further enhance our capabilities. We will complete a high-quality medical environment for residents through various medical subjects, including the Department of Respiratory Internal Medicine, established this year. As COVID-19 persists for a long time, we will faithfully fulfill our public role to satisfy the expectations of the government and local governments. We want to thank the employees who always do their best in their respective positions, even under challenging circumstances.