National First 'House-Visit Gyeonggi Care and Medical Service' Expands from 6 Cities to 9 Cities Starting July

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province is operating 'House-Visit Care and Medical Centers,' a nation-first integrated visiting medical and welfare service with no eligibility restrictions. Starting July 1st, residents will be able to receive care and medical services at Ilsan Gospel Hospital (Goyang), Daedan City Hospital (Hwaseong), and Shincheon United Hospital (Siheung).

The province launched services in February at six cities where Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Centers are located: Suwon, Uijeongbu, Paju, Icheon, Anseong, and Pocheon. Following a public recruitment process that added three additional facilities, the service areas have expanded from 6 cities to 9 cities.

The 'House-Visit Care and Medical Center' comprises care and medical teams of doctors, nurses, and social workers who visit service applicants' homes to provide medical services including medical examinations, prescriptions, vital sign measurements, various tests, nutrition education and counseling, and lifestyle management. When care is needed, the team also provides guidance on connecting with local social welfare services.

Unlike existing home-based medical services, there is no separate categorization of eligible recipients such as long-term care recipients. Any resident with mobility difficulties can apply for house-visit medical services. Gyeonggi Province provides care and medical services following basic surveys conducted by care and medical managers.

Those in the 9 cities who wish to receive care and medical services can apply by phone through a patient or guardian contacting their local service hospital. After brief counseling and health assessment, the care and medical team will visit the home.

Particularly for vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood recipients, low-income households near the poverty line, and those earning below 65% of median income, connection with the 'Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Vulnerable Population Medical Expense Support Project' allows free use of both house-visit medical care and hospital admission. Previously, when documents such as home care referral letters or long-term care classification assessment medical opinions were needed, patients with mobility difficulties had to visit hospitals in person. Now, care and medical teams can visit to issue these documents, improving convenience for patients and guardians.

Yu Young-chul, director of Gyeonggi Province's Health and Wellness Bureau, stated, "The House-Visit Gyeonggi Care and Medical Center project marks the beginning of Gyeonggi Province's unique integrated care and medical model in response to the super-aging society and increase in single-person households. In this era of population super-aging, we will strengthen services to enable all residents with mobility difficulties to live healthy lives in their homes or facilities."