Among elderly citizens who seek care at local clinics, doctors can refer those in need of nutritional management, rehabilitation therapy, welfare counseling, or lifestyle improvement to the public health center for comprehensive care. (Image courtesy of Seoul Welfare Foundation)
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that it will expand the ‘Elderly Health Companion Service’ to all 25 of its districts next year.
The service is an integrated health management program designed for elderly citizens, bridging the expertise of local hospitals in professional treatment with the health management services offered by public health centers. At present, 263 medical institutions across 15 districts are taking part in this pilot project.
Among elderly citizens who seek care at local clinics, doctors can refer those in need of nutritional management, rehabilitation therapy, welfare counseling, or lifestyle improvement to the public health center for comprehensive care. Upon receiving such referrals, the public health center assembles a health companion team consisting of a doctor, a nurse and a nutritionist. This team conducts home visits, delivering intensive health care management over a two-month period.
The scope of health management encompasses chronic diseases, nutritional assessments, fall risk evaluations, and mental health monitoring. The outcomes of the team’s health management services are communicated back to the medical institution.
According to the city government, the health companion service has created a mutually complementary effect between local clinics and public health centers, contributing to the identification of elderly individuals who had remained in the blind spots of the welfare system due to their exclusion from the vulnerable class.
Furthermore, offering a range of valuable services such as physical therapy, insulin injections, and nutritional supplements, this program garners high levels of user satisfaction, serving as an opportunity to boost the pride of medical workers at participating local clinics and public health centers.
On the back of such achievements, the city government plans to extend the reach of this program to all of its 25 districts, with the goal of providing seamless healthcare services across all districts.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
