BUSAN — Busan is accelerating efforts to build care environments safe from infectious disease through the Busan Infection-Safe Care Certification, the first such program in South Korea.
The city said on the 20th that it has selected seven more elderly care facilities as certified institutions under the program, which it is running with the Busan Social Services Agency. Including the three facilities designated during a pilot phase last year, the number of certified infection-safe care institutions in Busan now stands at 10.
The facilities selected this year are Gijang Silver Home in Gijang County, Muryangsu Nursing Home in Dongnae District, the Busan Metropolitan Senior Health Center in Sasang District, Songwon Specialized Nursing Home for the Elderly in Dong District, Inchang Dong-gu Nursing Home in Dong District, Inchang Silverwell in Saha District, and Hyosung Senior Health Center in Gijang County.
Certification is valid for three years. The city will provide each facility with 5 million to 10 million won in infection control funding and plans to monitor infection control practices annually.
The certification program was introduced last year to support voluntary infection prevention and practical improvements in care environments at nursing homes. Rather than relying on mandatory evaluations and regulation, it offers advance consulting and on-site reviews to help individual facilities improve. The program aims to create care environments that reassure residents and their families, and to prevent the spread of infectious disease in local communities.
Twenty-one nursing homes applied for review this year. After a program briefing and preliminary screening, the city selected the final seven through facility-by-facility consulting, self-assessments, on-site reviews and deliberation by a certification committee. Reviewers examined infection control, facility conditions, staff training and response systems, and also presented improvement points for each facility during the process. Certification is granted to facilities that score 70 or higher on an index of 33 items.
The city will award certificates and plaques on the afternoon of the 21st at the Busan Waterworks Authority. The event will include a review of the program's progress and case studies from participating facilities, along with training on on-site communication for staff responsible for infection control at nursing homes.
Starting next year, the city plans to add 10 certified institutions annually, with a goal of certifying 50 of Busan's 101 nursing homes by 2030. "We hope this certification raises facilities' sense of responsibility and pride, and becomes a turning point for spreading care environments safe from infectious disease throughout the community," said Cho Kyu-yul, director general of the city's Citizen Health Bureau.