Innovation 24

The “Firsts” and “Bests” of Government Innovation

The Korean Government will accredit the “Firsts” of our innovations that contributed to the public’s comfort and safety, and select the “Best” cases of government innovation to spread as examples to our many institutions.

The First

First In Korea Drive-through Screening Stations

Kyungpook National University Hospital Chilgok Branch
2023-12-29

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The Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, in February 2020, operated the world’s first Drive-through Screening Station.

A Pinnacle of K-Quarantine, Outstandingly Quick and Safe!

Content

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√ Overview

√ Introduction

√ Results and Expansion

■ Quick and Safe!!

Drive-through screening stations are mobile screening and testing stations for drivers, designed to allow potential patients of infectious diseases to receive testing from within their vehicles without the need to exit their vehicles. These stations are a medical application derived from existing drive-through ordering systems utilized by fast food restaurants and franchise coffee shops where customers order from inside their vehicles.

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A drive-through screening in process ⓒ Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital

On the 23rd of February, 2020, the Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital implemented the world’s first drive-through COVID19 screening method, with multiple nations benchmarking this new method of screening for infectious diseases.

As COVID 19 was rapidly spreading within Korea at the time, there was a strong need for a faster and efficient, but also safe method of screening. The existing diagnosis method for COVID19 involved potential patients visiting on foot, gathering in front of negative pressure testing chambers, causing a high concern of secondary exposure. Meanwhile, long waiting times and testing times resulted in rising complaints of inconvenience and uneasiness.

In this time of national crisis, Dr. Kim, Jinyong, head of the Center for Global Infectious Diseases Control of Incheon Medical Center, suggested a drive-through method for testing, and Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital rapidly introduced a drive-through screening station and began operations in accordance with its facility’s conditions.

?The Korean Drive-through Testing Method, Leading the Global Standard ?

- The Drive-through testing method was first implemented in simulation form at Stanford Hospital & Clinics in the USA, with a rise in avian flu cases in 2009. However, Korea’s success case of actual implementation at a national level was the first of its kind in the world.

- Beginning in August, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) led efforts to register the COVID19 drive-through screening station standard operating model with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), with the model being verified as a world standard in February, 2022.

■ The Quick Diagnoses of innovative screening stations, contributing to limiting spread of COVID19

The advantage that drive-through screening stations hold are their ability to cut off exposure threats and test with speed. The risk of exposure or infection is greatly reduced, as test subjects are tested for temperature and samples while remaining in the independent space of their vehicles.

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As the COVID19 drive-through tests allowed all testing procedures including questionnaire completion, doctor diagnosis, and sample collection, all from within each subject’s vehicle, the test time for each individual could be reduced to about 5 to 10 minutes. While there had been risks of cross exposure from patients waiting in front of screening stations, an addition of phone reservations for treatment led to reduced waiting lines.

The existing COVID19 testing method required internal disinfection, air ventilation and changing of protective gear for medical personnel with each test, but the drive-through method allowed the exclusion of disinfection and ventilation procedures, while medical personnel were now able to continue testing with only a change of gloves and apron.

The Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital’s own research showed that the drive-through method increased testing speeds by 20 to 30 times in comparison to existing testing methods.

■ through Screening, Praised Overseas as a Rapid Solution Model of K-Quarantine.

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