"Thanks to AI, we were able to secure the golden time to save a patient’s life."
Even as the clock strikes midnight, the emergency department at Hyundae Hospital in Namyangju, Korea remains busy. Patients collapsing without warning, victims of traffic accidents, and people suffering from unexplained headaches arrive around the clock. Here, in a place where every second counts, even the slightest delay can decide between life and death.
Rush hour crowding and understaffed night shifts often push medical staff to their absolute limits. In such moments, rapid and accurate decision-making plays a decisive role in saving lives.
To safeguard these precious golden minutes, Hyundae Hospital made an innovative choice: adopting an
AI-powered brain CT analysis solution. The results have been remarkable.
Why AI is Urgently Needed in the ER
Although an ER is open 24/7, it is far from a place where you can plan resources like a convenience store. Patient inflow is unpredictable, and any delay—even seconds—can lead to fatal consequences.
An emergency physician at Hyundae Hospital explains:
"In the ER, you always need to keep a buffer. But when patients surge in, you inevitably fall behind. In those moments, there are things you cannot afford to miss. AI serves as a fast and accurate ‘second pair of eyes’ in such situations."
For frontline physicians, AI has become more than a simple support tool. It acts like an experienced colleague who is always on hand—helping ensure accurate, timely decisions under pressure.
“From 10 Minutes to 1 Minute” – The Need for AI Adoption
Hyundae Hospital’s decision to implement AI stemmed from urgent, day-to-day challenges:
- Heavy workload of CT interpretation: A single brain CT can produce hundreds of images. Reviewing each scan thoroughly in an emergency setting is both exhausting and time-critical.
- Extreme psychological pressure: During night shifts, a single physician may be responsible for numerous patients simultaneously, often working in isolation.
- Growing patient inflow from underserved regions: Critically ill patients are often transferred from rural areas such as Gangwon Province, where timely intervention becomes even more crucial.
AI became a game changer. Immediately after a CT is taken, AI generates a summarized output in 30–60 seconds, compared to the 10–15 minutes required for manual review. This speed has fundamentally changed the pace of clinical decision-making in emergencies.
Case in Point: AI Secures the Golden Hour for a Stroke Patient
The true value of AI is not just in numbers, but in moments where it saves lives.
One month ago, a man in his 50s visited the ER, complaining only of unusual fatigue. At first glance, his symptoms seemed minor, and the initial CT showed no clear bleeding. It was a situation where diagnosis could easily have been delayed.
Then, AI immediately flagged a potential hemorrhage. Acting without hesitation, the clinical team ordered a contrast-enhanced CT, which confirmed a brain hemorrhage. The patient was promptly transferred to neurosurgery for treatment.
"Without AI, we might have lost several minutes—possibly more. For a patient with brain bleeding, those minutes truly meant the difference between life and death."
Rigorous Multi-Step Validation for Patient Safety
For Hyundae Hospital, patient safety comes first. Rather than rushing adoption, the hospital established a robust, multi-step validation process to ensure the system could be trusted as a decision-support tool:
- Retrospective validation using past patient data
- Blind testing with radiologists, comparing AI findings against expert interpretation
- Real-time verification system: every AI output is reviewed immediately by a radiologist, minimizing errors and building clinical trust
Reducing Burden, Refocusing on Core Medical Care
AI has brought fundamental changes not only in efficiency, but also in the daily work and mindset of medical staff:
- Psychological relief: During night shifts, AI feels like an “experienced colleague” watching alongside them, reducing isolation and stress.
- Focus on core care: With less time consumed in image review, clinicians can devote more attention to patient counseling, treatment planning, and monitoring.
"Even if you interpret 100 scans correctly, missing just one can result in serious consequences. AI reduces that extreme stress and becomes a truly reliable partner."
How Do Patients and Families Respond?
Although currently offered as a non-reimbursed service, most patients and families have responded positively, recognizing the role of advanced technology in safeguarding their health.
A few raised concerns about additional cost, and there has been an isolated refusal. But in emergency settings, urgent action takes precedence, and consent is often obtained afterwards without resistance.
Beyond Brain CT: Toward Broader Expansion
Hyundae Hospital is not stopping at brain CT analysis. The next step is to expand AI into cardiac CT interpretation and vital sign monitoring. With real-time alert capabilities, the system could detect risk signals instantly and accelerate decision-making even further.
"AI is not just a detection tool—it is becoming essential infrastructure for patient safety."
This vision reflects how AI is setting a new standard in emergency medicine and will continue to evolve in the years ahead.
Key Outcomes of AI Adoption at Hyundae Hospital
· Revolutionary time savings: From 10–15 minutes → within 1 minute with AI
· Golden time secured: Life-saving intervention possible in brain hemorrhage and other emergencies
· Improved working environment for staff: Psychological relief during night shifts, more focus on patient-centered care
· Patient safety reinforced: Rigorous multi-step validation ensures reliable AI use
· Future expansion: From brain CT to cardiac CT and vital sign monitoring, toward a comprehensive decision-support platform
The Hyundae Hospital case vividly illustrates how AI in emergency care can save precious lives, reduce clinical burden, and elevate the quality of medicine.
More than a technological adoption, it demonstrates how AI directly addresses real-world challenges in healthcare—and helps fulfill the ultimate mission of medicine: protecting patient safety.
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