Jeju Island Implements 'Home Treatment System' for Asymptomatic and Mild Patients

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 30th that it will officially launch the ‘Home Treatment System’ starting next month 1st.

In accordance with the changes in the criteria and classification system for home treatment targets by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19, all confirmed cases will be treated at home as the basic approach to gradually restore daily life and reduce hospital bed burden.

Until now, home treatment was conducted with the consent of confirmed cases, but from next month, after a basic epidemiological investigation by the public health center, hospital beds will be assigned only in cases where home treatment is difficult, including confirmed cases who necessarily require hospitalization.

Exclusion from home treatment applies to high-risk groups and includes ▲those with hospitalization factors (including cohabitants) ▲those living in vulnerable residential environments to infection (such as goshiwon, share houses, homeless, etc.) ▲children, disabled persons, those aged 70 or older (even if fully vaccinated), and those who require care but cannot be isolated together with a caregiver.

The usual home treatment period is 10 days, and health monitoring will be conducted at least twice a day through a cooperative system involving the province, public health centers, and partner hospitals for patients under home treatment.

Confirmed cases will immediately receive a home treatment personal protective equipment set to check their health status during home treatment, and an emergency contact network composed of a management team, cooperating doctors, and managing medical institutions will be provided to ensure 24-hour contact in case of emergencies.

Support for daily necessities and living support funds according to the number of household members will also be provided.

Additionally, if medical treatment is needed during the monitoring process, patients will be connected to doctors at partner hospitals for non-face-to-face diagnosis and treatment, and if abnormal signs or symptom deterioration are detected, they will be transferred to a dedicated hospital.

If a home treatment patient leaves their residence, the police will verify the scene together and, after transfer, will take legal action under a zero-tolerance policy.

Jeju Province is organizing a provincial home management team and home treatment management teams in each administrative city to fully operate the home treatment system.

Currently, home treatment work is being carried out by the public health center’s own personnel, but a dedicated organization and personnel will be finalized in the regular personnel appointment in the first half of next year.

Along with this, to ensure stable patient management and emergency response, contracts have been signed with Jeju Medical Center and Seogwipo Medical Center, establishing a 24-hour treatment and consultation system.

Jeju Province currently operates a total of 447 beds, including 3 dedicated hospitals with 287 beds (including 12 severe and 5 moderate-severe beds) and 1 residential treatment center with 160 beds.

As of 0:00 this morning, the number of inpatient beds was 206 (Jeju National University Hospital 50, Seogwipo Medical Center 73, Jeju Medical Center 65, 4th Residential Treatment Center 53), with an occupancy rate of 46.1%.

Im Tae-bong, head of Jeju Province’s COVID-19 Response Promotion Team, said, “We will do our utmost to ensure that COVID-19 can be safely managed even at home,” and added, “We expect that the full implementation of home treatment will reduce the burden on medical resources and establish a sustainable medical system.”

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won captain@asiae.co.kr