Aaron Lee, COL ’27, Marlboro, NJ
I still remember anxiously checking my phone, waiting for my turn to receive care.
5:03 a.m.? How is that even possible?
What began as a health scare and ambulance trip to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania developed into an overnight challenge to stay awake, waiting for treatment while sick. Despite HUP’s reputation as one of the best hospitals in the nation, I felt uneasy after this grueling experience arguably left me worse off than I’d started. I ended up waiting until 7:30 a.m.—my discouragement growing by the minute—before reluctantly leaving to avoid what would have been a thirteen-hour wait. To add insult to injury, I was later billed a hefty amount despite receiving little to no medical attention.
Yet, I was not the only one facing this situation; as I waited, I observed a waiting room full of other patients sitting in a similar state of uncertainty and discomfort. This encounter with inaccessible care left me questioning the efficacy of our healthcare system.
As a student interested in pursuing the medical field, I recognize the factors limiting access to equitable healthcare; particularly across the U.S., where it is fragmented, profit-driven, and hindered by legislative gridlock, patients are left with a lack of universal treatment, exacerbating their need for care.
To better understand how to tackle this issue, I was determined to consult with a system that works: South Korea’s healthcare is a public good, renowned worldwide for its efficiency and accessibility. Traveling there for my internship, I witnessed firsthand how public hospitals operate in a setting where its National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) provides universal coverage for all.
Immediately, I took notice of various factors contributing to the comprehensive care available. Unlike in the U.S., where patients often need referrals from primary care physicians to then seek out specialists separately, Korean hospitals offer an all-inclusive structure. Within the same facility, allows patients to directly navigate to specific departments to book appointments with specialists right away; each department has its own lobby, reception area, and waiting room, with doctor information displayed on TVs outside their offices, giving patients a clear understanding of what to expect.
From shadowing doctors across specialties to interviewing receptionists and administrators, I quickly learned how patients are able to receive such timely care; from universal funding that covers most of the hospital’s expenses all the way down to Korean culture—built on politeness and respect for authority—Korea has set an efficient system in place that creates ease in booking appointments, meeting specialists, and receiving treatments without the worries of financial burden. Even as I delved into med-tech, I learned that the government actively supports innovation, providing grants to devices and startups that gain traction, fueling this rapidly developing and incredibly efficient field of healthcare.
However, that’s not to say this system is without its faults; in fact, it is due to this “빨리 빨리” (“hurry hurry”) mentality—as put by my supervisor—that both patients and doctors are left dissatisfied with their experiences. Unlike in the U.S., where patients must set up appointments well in advance, doctors in Korea are constantly tasked with seeing an influx of patients on the regular. While this approach may ensure quick and accessible care, it compromises the depth of consultations and doctor-patient relationships, which is characteristic of the extensive and personalized care found in the U.S.
In fact, it is for that reason that many doctors, who find the workload overloading and unrewarding, have gone on strike over recent government policies and working conditions. I witnessed firsthand as doctors gathered en masse to protest the admission of more students into medical school, which would further this unsustainably efficient system while reducing doctor compensation and autonomy.
Ultimately, it is clear that no healthcare system is perfect. Though my time in Korea provided invaluable insights into how a universal healthcare system can provide—especially for those who might struggle to afford it in the U.S.—it also revealed the complex tightrope that is balancing speed, quality, and sustainability.
As I continue my journey in medicine, I carry with me lessons from across the globe. It would be nearly impossible to hand pick the best aspects of each healthcare system due to their complex infrastructures (down to the cultural level). However, I am committed to contributing my global perspective towards a future with truly accessible and effective care for all.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2024 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
