Mobile Health Bus Operating for 5 Years to Manage Health of Vulnerable Groups Including Elderly and Disabled
Experts Such as Doctors, Nurses, Nutritionists, and Exercise Specialists Provide Integrated Health Checkups
Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is operating a ‘Mobile Health Bus’ for health-vulnerable groups with low medical accessibility.
The Mobile Health Bus, which started in July 2020, is now in its fifth year and has continuously provided year-round checkups even during the COVID-19 period, becoming an indispensable ‘second public health center’ for residents. In fact, in 2023 alone, the bus operated 161 times, providing checkups to about 3,500 people, delivering approximately 10,000 personalized health consultations, and linking 959 cases to related health and welfare services. This year, up to September, it has operated 124 times with 2,923 users and conducted about 8,700 health consultations.
The Mobile Health Bus, affiliated with Wolgye Health Branch, is accompanied by doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and exercise specialists on a bus equipped with medical devices, visiting senior centers, apartments, welfare centers, and more, thus functioning literally as a ‘moving public health center.’ The visiting areas are not limited to Wolgye-dong but cover the entire Nowon-gu district.
Upon the bus’s arrival, visitors first fill out a medical questionnaire and undergo basic examinations. Basic information about health status is collected through simple tests such as body measurements and blood pressure, as well as blood tests and body composition analysis. Then, specialized examinations such as bone density, pulse wave tests, plantar pressure, and gait analysis are additionally performed to check for any health abnormalities that vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled?who are the main users of the health bus?may experience. Afterward, comprehensive health evaluations and disease consultations are conducted by a doctor, and specialized counseling on nutrition, exercise, and more is provided according to each individual’s needs.
In particular, residents using the Mobile Health Bus express high satisfaction as they receive an average of more than 10 minutes of personalized consultation per person based on their test results. From the beginning of the project, the district has demonstrated its commitment to continuous operation and quality management of services by directly owning the bus, equipment, and professional personnel and managing the service through Wolgye Health Branch.
Nowon-gu not only operates the largest number of four health branches in Seoul (Wolgye, Gongneung, Sanggye, Madeul) but also actively reaches out to residents with poor medical accessibility. The district’s health policy has been recognized by several reputable organizations. It has won the Korea Healthy City Award for six consecutive years, with its project plans and actual outcomes evaluated as sustainable, and recently celebrated the double honor of receiving the ‘Infrastructure Development Healthy City Award’ from the WHO Western Pacific Healthy Cities Alliance.
The Mobile Health Bus is expanding its service scope beyond senior centers and welfare centers to workplaces and government offices. Places wishing to have the health bus visit can apply after prior consultation with Wolgye Health Branch regarding parking and scheduling.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Preparing for a ‘healthy old age’ is very important in Korea, where aging is progressing at an unprecedentedly rapid pace worldwide,” adding, “We will continue to operate the Mobile Health Bus and do our utmost to fulfill the maximum role that public health care can take responsibility for.”
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