Korea’s First “Cancer Center” Becomes Korea’s First “Cancer Hospital”

On April 14, the brand new Yonsei Cancer Hospital (YCH) opened its doors. Situated adjacent to Severance Hospital on the Sinchon campus, the nation’s first cancer hospital succeeds the Yonsei Cancer Center, which was established in November of 1969. Being marketed as a “global hub for cancer treatment,” the YCH aims to distinguish itself through cutting-edge cancer treatment techniques and a comprehensive, patient-oriented treatment process. In its efforts to provide world-class cancer treatment, YCH will also support wide-ranging, international cancer research, while developing an extensive cancer treatment network.
YCH’s “Total Care System” provides cancer prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services through fifteen different clinics and centers, including the Cancer Prevention Center, Cancer Knowledge Center, Liver Cancer Treatment Center, and Acute Palliative Care Center. With its network of 169 professors and 830 health professionals, YCH diagnoses and treats patients using advanced medical technologies and therapies, such as robotic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), tomotherapy, linear accelerators (LINAC), robotic surgery, and cyclotron therapy. In particular, YCH is one of the first medical institutions in Asia to use robotic IMRT, which delivers precise radiation doses to malignant tumors while minimizing the damage to adjacent normal tissues. And in order to provide customized, patient-oriented treatment, YCH is equipped with advanced patient management software and state-of-the-art medical information technology.

Rapid Treatment Process

In treating cancer, time is of the essence, as survival rates are significantly improved when the patient is treated as soon as possible. As such, YCH’s innovative “Fast Track System” is designed to reduce the waiting period for surgery and other essential cancer treatments.

Pleasant and Comfortable “Patient-Oriented” Spaces
YCH is committed to the idea that the hospital exists for its patients. Because of this, the hospital is designed for ease of navigation and the comfort of its patients and their family members. The entrance area provides an environmentally-friendly green space, while examination rooms are located on the first and second floors. Outpatient clinics are situated on the third, fourth, and fifth floors.

Reducing Discomfort and Improving Experience for Cancer Patients

YCH is dedicated to improving the patient experience by reducing pain, alleviating anxiety, and shortening waiting times. In addressing the emotional and psychological effects of cancer, the hospital seeks to avoid the shortcomings of traditional cancer treatment, which tends to focus solely on the medical aspects. Furthermore, the high ratio of cancer specialists, ones who remain mindful of the importance of empathetic and precise explanations, means that YCH is setting a standard of excellence unsurpassed in this country.