Advanced Medical Care for International Patients: Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital

Written and photographed by CNU Hwasun Hospital Press Team

The Chonnam National University (CNU) Hwasun Hospital is a government-designated “hospital serving foreign patients” and is located just outside of Gwangju. The hospital specializes in cancer treatment for international patients and has high patient satisfaction. Its International Medical Center provides consultation services and convenience.

Chekurov Mikhail (72, freelance sports reporter from Almaty, Kazakhstan) underwent an operation for melanoma performed at the CNU Hwasun Hospital at the end of last year. Prior to this operation, he had gone through procedures for cervical schwannoma in 2013 and cholecystectomy in 2015 at the CNU Hwasun Hospital. Mikhail, who had open heart surgery performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center 16 years ago, stated, “Once I thought America had the best medical care and Korea was way behind. However, the treatment from the CNU Hwasun hospital has changed my opinion completely. If necessary, I will come back to this hospital for future treatment.”

Both Usenko Andrey (44, business owner) and his wife, Natalia Ivanova (45), from Novosibirsk, the third largest city in Russia, underwent surgery as treatment for cancer. After surgery for thyroid cancer in 2012 from a well-known hospital in Israel, Andrey suffered aftereffects. He encountered a certain “Koryo-saram” (고려사람, ethnic Koreans in post-Soviet states) employee mentioning that “Korea’s medical care is quite good.” With the help of a local agency, Andrey decided to come to the CNU Hwasun Hospital. He had surgery for his thyroid cancer in 2013 and fully recovered. When his wife was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a hospital in Seoul, she came directly to the CNU Hwasun Hospital for her surgery. With a smile, the two say that they would like to recommend this hospital rather than one of the big hospitals in Seoul. The dedicated medical team with its advanced medical care and the pleasant natural environment makes it quite satisfying. They say that the hospital has given them new life and new hope.

The number of international patients visiting the CNU Hwasun Hospital is increasing and the services provided have been well received with high satisfaction.

The CNU Hwasun Hospital was the only national hospital in Korea appointed by the KAHF (Korean Accreditation Program for Hospitals Serving Foreign Patients). Among all of the Korean medical centers that applied, this was the one selected by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as the best center based on the following criteria: consultation in multiple languages, interpretation services, convenience, infection control, and being more related to the special services required by foreign patients.

Thanks to this designation as a hospital serving foreign patients, the CNU Hwasun Hospital has been promoted by the Korean government through their homepage and on SNS. Sponsored by the Korean government, the CNU Hwasun Hospital staffed a booth at the Medical Korea Expo at the Seoul COEX from March 14–17 last year. This expo was held to promote cooperation and exchanges among different countries in terms of medical trends and knowledge.

Since most medical tourism has been more focused in the greater Seoul area as opposed to the Honam region, this designation by the KAHF is remarkable for the hospital, especially since it is located so far south of the Seoul sphere of influence. Despite the clean natural environment, the location does have some disadvantages with respect to accessibility. However, since opening in 2004, the hospital has brought in advanced medical equipment, joint treatment systems, and specialization in cancer treatment. With an excellent medical team, nature-friendly environment, and relatively affordable medical fees, the hospital aggressively attracts foreign patients.

For the first time in the history of Korean national universities, the CNU Hwasun Hospital was accredited by the JCI (Joint Commission International) in 2010, and in 2013, it met the international standards for patient safety and medical care. Creating a huge “healing forest” as infrastructure for healing is another unique factor of the CNU Hwasun Hospital.

As a first for the Honam region, the CNU Hwasun Hospital opened an “international medical center” within the hospital in 2011. With interpretation services and a direct billing service from international medical insurance providers, the hospital has been putting great effort into not only attracting international patients but also expanding in the international medical market and global network. In 2013, the CNU Hwasun hospital took first place in the rate of increase in attracting international patients. Many cancer patients from Russia, Mongolia, and other Central Asian countries have been visiting the hospital. Free follow-up service for foreign patients is provided for those who send medical records from their own countries after treatment from the CNU Hwasun Hospital. The high patient-satisfaction rate has resulted in no official medical claims so far.

The hospital has received worldwide and domestic attention for its first place in the number of cancer surgery cases per bed, the highest ranking in capability in cancer treatment for each field, a high survival rate among cancer patients, and relatively affordable medical fees in comparison to those of the capital area. The CNU Hwasun Hospital has been considered “the most beautiful hospital” in Korea and even scored the highest points for “medical service assessment from inpatient experiences” as announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last year.

The CNU Hwasun Hospital has been strengthening its international standing and expanding its international network by signing MOUs with hospitals not only in America, Russia, and China, but also in Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan in Central Asia, and with Vietnam in Southeast Asia. The hospital was introduced in the Middle East as an “innovative hospital representing Korea” by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Having started with 287 beds at its beginning in 2004, the CNU Hwasun Hospital now manages 705 beds. The number of annual surgeries has reached 9,000 cases. The annual number of patients, including both inpatients and outpatients, has reached 720,000. A staff of 1,400 employees, including 270 doctors and 700 nurses, currently works at the hospital.

According to Shin Jung, M.D., Ph.D. (General Director/CEO of the CNU Hwasun Hospital), to keep the nickname “Mayo Clinic of Korea,” all the employees of the CNU Hwasun Hospital try their best to become like the original Mayo Clinic in America. He also says that they will try their best to provide high-quality international medical service to uphold its reputation of “representing Asia’s hospitals specializing in cancer treatment.”

Translated by Min Park

THE CNU HWASUN HOSPITAL INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Operation Hours: Mon.–Fri. 9:00–18:00
Address: 322 Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun, Jeollanam-do
(No. 151 Gwangju City bus, 217 or 217-1 Hwasun County bus available)
Tel: (061) 379-7892 (English), 379-7895 (Russian)