Online Consultation With Spine and Joint Specialists in Seul
South Korea Border and Travel During COVID-19
South Korea is a popular destination for medical tourists in search of all kinds of treatments. COVID-19 has drastically reduced travel possibilities, including health tourism. We talked with Ina from NANOORI Spine and Joints Hospital in South Korea to figure out how are they communicating and helping international patients that cannot travel to their hospital in Seul.
How can Foreign Patients Contact your Hospital in Seul?
"The easiest way international patients can reach Nanoori Hospital (Spine and Joint specialty hospital located in South Korea) is via e-mail. We receive e-mails from patients from all over the world." You can contact Nanoori Hospital HERE.
How Online Consultations for Spine and Joint Issues take place?
"Our English, Russian, and Mongolian speaking coordinators answer questions regarding the spine and joint-related ailments. They can book appointments, ask questions, and send their medical report or current symptoms to us. We also receive MRI or X-RAY images in either DICOM or JPEG file format via this e-mail, which is our most preferred way to receive a question as it is the most accurate and fast way to ask us medical questions and forward it to our surgeons to get a proper medical treatment plan if it is necessary. With our medical treatment plan, our international patients can get an idea as to whether they need surgical treatment for their current spine or joint conditions and if so how much it would cost them and what to expect during their hospitalization period and so on. (The most frequently asked questions are those regarding the total cost of treatment and the number of days required for hospitalization.) We send out our medical treatment plan within a few business days(1-2 days)."
How are Hospitals in South Korea Managing COVID-19 Pandemic?
"During this pandemic, we do our best to protect all of our patients and staff members. We take various measures. For example, it is mandatory for everyone entering the hospital to wear a face mask during their visit, and also it is mandatory for everyone to measure their body temperature and check whether they had been flying out of the country within the last month. We sanitize our facilities daily and all of our healthcare professionals greet patients wearing appropriate protection. Together we do our best to ensure that medical visit remains safe even in times of the coronavirus."
What Kind of Treatments Nanoori Hospital Provides?
"We are a specialized hospital for spine diseases designated by the Ministry of Health&Welfare. Korea has implemented the specialized hospital system, through which hospitals are designated as specialized hospitals through a strict evaluation process among hospitals offering specialized treatments. Nanoori Hospital is one of the most prestigious specialized hospitals for spine diseases, designated by the Ministry of Health &Welfare. Much accumulated experience and know-how about spine treatments through 9,000 surgeries (ranked fifth in Korea) every year."
"Nanoori Hospital provides accurate examinations and various options for tailored treatment. Accurate examinations by using such cutting-edge equipment as the MRI, MDCT, and C-Ann Speciahzed surgery on spine diseases by using a laser-assisted spinal endoscope and a microscope. Systematic rehabilitation and aftercare programs after surgery various non-surgical treatments, such as medication-injection therapy, special physical therapy, or exercise therapy, are first used."
South Korea Border & Travel Information:
On March 17, South Korea said it would tighten border checks for all overseas arrivals. The government had already imposed strict border checks on visitors from China, Italy, and Iran, requiring them to sign up by a smartphone application to track whether they have any symptoms, such as fever.
The government also issued a "special travel advisory" on March 23, calling on its citizens to cancel or postpone their trips abroad over the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Foreign Ministry said that the special travel advisory applies to all countries except those that are already under higher alerts that call for the withdrawal of citizens or are subject to a travel ban.
South Korea has also enforced a two-week quarantine period and virus tests for all long-term arrivals from Europe, regardless of symptoms, to contain imported virus cases.
