Pilot Operation of 'Emergency Psychiatric Bed Information Sharing System' Begins in Seoul and Gyeonggi

Welfare Ministry and Korea Health and Medical Information Service
Launch Pilot System for Real-Time Sharing of Psychiatric Emergency Bed Information
Targeting Seoul and Gyeonggi Regions

The Korea Health and Medical Information Service announced on the 19th that it has established the 'Emergency Psychiatric Bed Information Sharing System' to enable information sharing among relevant institutions in the event of psychiatric emergencies, and has begun a pilot operation targeting the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions.

This project is being carried out as part of the '2nd Basic Mental Health Welfare Plan (2021-25)' to establish a community-based emergency response system for psychiatric cases. The ultimate goal is to build a system that enables real-time sharing of necessary information among institutions to ensure smooth transfer and admission of psychiatric emergency patients.

The Korea Health and Medical Information Service, designated as the implementing agency, formed a working-level consultative group in March for stable system operation and collected functional requirements twice. Based on this feedback, the system has been improved in stages. On May 9, a system briefing session was held for psychiatric medical institutions with inpatient beds in Seoul and Gyeonggi, mental health welfare centers, local public health centers, and the police.

Currently, the system assigns different access rights by institution type: police and fire services, psychiatric medical institutions, and local governments (mental health welfare centers, public health centers). It provides institution-specific functions such as searching for medical institutions available for emergency admission, managing bed information, and viewing statistical data. In the second half of this year, the second phase of the project will further advance the system by adding features such as the development of a dedicated application, introduction of video sensor equipment, and automation of bed information through integration with electronic medical record (EMR) systems.

Institutions involved in emergency psychiatric response can register for the system. Institutions wishing to apply can download the application form from the m-care website or the Korea Health and Medical Information Service website’s resources section, complete it, and submit it.

Yeom Minseop, President of the Korea Health and Medical Information Service, stated, "We will continue to improve the system based on feedback from field practitioners to ensure a prompt and accurate response to psychiatric emergencies, and will make every effort to expand it nationwide without any setbacks."