Busan adds 7 care homes to its infection-safety certification, targets 50 by 2030
In short
Busan city said on 20 October that it has selected seven more elderly care facilities as certified infection-safe care institutions. They join three designated last year, and each gets 5 million to 10 million won for infection control. The city aims to certify 50 facilities by 2030.
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Busan city said on 20 October that it had selected seven more elderly care facilities as certified institutions under its infection-safe care certification. Seoul Economic Daily reported that the city runs the scheme with the Busan Social Service Institute. Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily said three facilities were designated last year, which brings the total to 10. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The newly selected facilities are Gijang Silver Home (기장실버홈) and Hyoseong Senior Health Center (효성노인건강센터) in Gijang County, Muryangsu Nursing Home (무량수노인요양원) in Dongnae District, Busan Senior Health Center (부산광역시노인건강센터) in Sasang District, Songwon Senior Specialty Nursing Home (송원노인전문요양원) and Inchang Donggu Nursing Home (인창동구노인요양원) in Dong District, and Inchang Silverwell (인창실버웰) in Saha District. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Certification lasts three years. The city will give each certified facility at least 5 million won and at most 10 million won for infection control and will monitor infection control every year. [ 1 , 3 ]
According to Newsis and Yonhap, the city introduced the system last year as the first in the country. It certifies elderly care facilities that have a safe environment against infectious disease and that carry out systematic infection control as a matter of routine. The aim is a care environment in which residents and families feel secure, encouraging facilities' own infection prevention and stopping the spread of disease in the community. [ 1 , 3 ]
Seoul Economic Daily reported that 21 facilities applied this year. The city went through a briefing session, a preliminary screening, advance consulting, self-assessment, an on-site inspection and a certification committee review before choosing seven. Certification goes to facilities that score 70 points or more on a 33-item scale. The paper said the approach relies on consulting and on-site review rather than mandatory evaluation and regulation. [ 2 ]
The city will present certificates and plaques on the afternoon of 21 October at the Busan Waterworks Headquarters; Yonhap gave the time as 3 pm. Seoul Economic Daily said the event will also share project results and examples, and give on-site communication training to infection-control staff at care facilities. [ 2 , 3 ]
From next year the city plans to add 10 certified facilities a year, aiming to certify 50 of Busan's 101 care facilities by 2030. Jo Gyu-yul (조규율), head of the city's Citizens' Health Bureau, said he hoped the certification would raise the facilities' sense of responsibility and pride and help spread safe care environments in the community. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The city says the scheme is meant to give residents and families a safer care environment and to stop infectious diseases spreading in the community. Outlets report the city's plan to add 10 certified facilities a year from next year, but the documents give no results of the scheme so far.
Key facts
- Busan city said on 20 October that it had selected seven more elderly care facilities as certified institutions under its infection-safe care certification. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The seven are Gijang Silver Home (기장실버홈) and Hyoseong Senior Health Center (효성노인건강센터) in Gijang County, Muryangsu Nursing Home (무량수노인요양원) in Dongnae District, Busan Senior Health Center (부산광역시노인건강센터) in Sasang District, Songwon Senior Specialty Nursing Home (송원노인전문요양원) and Inchang Donggu Nursing Home (인창동구노인요양원) in Dong District, and Inchang Silverwell (인창실버웰) in Saha District. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Certification lasts three years. The city will give each certified facility at least 5 million won and at most 10 million won for infection control and will monitor infection control every year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Three facilities were designated last year, so Busan now has 10 certified facilities. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The city plans to add 10 certified facilities a year from next year and to certify 50 by 2030. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A ceremony to present certificates and plaques is to be held at the Busan Waterworks Headquarters on 21 October. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Busan city selected seven more elderly care facilities as certified infection-safe care institutions, announced on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Certification lasts three years, with 5 million to 10 million won in infection-control funding per facility and annual monitoring. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The city aims to certify 50 facilities by 2030, adding 10 a year from next year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A certificate and plaque ceremony is set for the afternoon of 21 October at the Busan Waterworks Headquarters. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How the facilities were chosen and how many applied. Only Seoul Economic Daily reported that 21 facilities applied and that certification goes to facilities scoring 70 points or more on a 33-item scale.
- The scheme's results so far. None of the documents gives results or data on infection rates.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis published the city's announcement of seven additional certified facilities. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily published its report with the 2030 target. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap published its report on the selection. [ 3 ]
- Certificate and plaque ceremony scheduled for 21 October at the Busan Waterworks Headquarters. [ 3 ]