Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic Surpasses 40,000 Cumulative Users... Playing a Vital Role as a Public Rehabilitation Medical Facility

Established in 2012 as Seoul's first public rehabilitation medical facility for the disabled, serving over 5,700 users last year
Providing high-quality rehabilitation services close to the community for residents from infants to the elderly
Offering university hospital-level rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy with specialized equipment and medical staff

Robot Rehabilitation Therapy

"I have been attending Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic since 2020. When I first visited, my knees were stiff, making it difficult to walk, so I mostly stayed at home. After receiving consistent physical therapy at Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic for about a year, I improved significantly, and walking became much easier. I continued treatment afterward and, starting a year ago, I have been active as a boccia athlete for people with disabilities, regaining vitality in my daily life. I am truly grateful." (Kim 00, 55)

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that the cumulative number of users of the public rehabilitation medical facility for people with disabilities, 'Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic,' which marks its 12th anniversary this year, has surpassed 40,000, establishing itself as a representative public rehabilitation medical facility in the local community.

'Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic' is Seoul's first public rehabilitation medical facility specializing in disabilities, established in 2012. It is operated under consignment by Hanyang University Hospital, allowing patients to receive university hospital-level rehabilitation treatment at an affordable cost. A total of nine specialized medical personnel, including the hospital director who is a rehabilitation medicine specialist, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, provide rehabilitation treatment services.

Located on the first floor of the Seongsu Cultural Welfare Center with good accessibility, it allows people with disabilities who have mobility restrictions to receive treatment comfortably. Thanks to this, about 4,000 people with disabilities (5,728 in 2023) receive specialized rehabilitation treatment here annually, comparable to that of university hospitals.

The clinic also plays a significant role in creating a foundation for residents with disabilities to live healthily and independently within their homes and communities by enabling them to receive continuous rehabilitation treatment in daily life without hospitalization. In 2023 alone, about 150 people with disabilities due to stroke and Parkinson's disease received over 7,700 rehabilitation treatments.

In particular, rehabilitation treatment services tailored to the age and characteristics of the patients, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, robotic rehabilitation therapy, sensory integration therapy, and speech therapy, are provided to help improve functions and reduce inconveniences in daily life.

Since 2021, robotic rehabilitation therapy using smart technology has been introduced and is in operation. This approach makes the repetitive training, which is especially important in rehabilitation, more engaging, providing more intensive rehabilitation treatment. Last year, the latest medical equipment for lower limb isokinetic exercise was introduced to offer treatment aimed at improving lower limb muscle strength.

Since 2022, speech therapy and sensory integration therapy (also available for adults) have been implemented to help children experiencing developmental delays and sensory issues receive early, diverse, and intensive treatment. As of 2023, about 1,000 speech therapy sessions and 500 sensory integration therapy sessions were conducted annually.

Residents who have used Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic say the greatest advantage of this facility is that they can receive professional and systematic rehabilitation treatment in their own neighborhood without having to travel far. It is also highly regarded for greatly aiding healthy independence within the community.

In fact, users of Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic range widely from infants as young as 3 months old (premature babies) to middle-aged adults (with cerebral hemorrhage, hemiplegia). Notably, the medical cost burden for vulnerable groups has been significantly alleviated. The clinic is also praised for early diagnosis and treatment outcomes related to child development.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "I hope that people with disabilities can receive high-quality rehabilitation treatment services without inconvenience at Seongdong Rehabilitation Clinic, a specialized rehabilitation medical facility for the disabled. We will continue to do our best to improve welfare for people with disabilities so that all Seongdong residents can enjoy a healthy and happy daily life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.