"Specialized Dementia Ward and Rehabilitation Robots Introduced"... Gangnam District Strengthens Public Haengbok Nursing Hospital

Gangnam District in Seoul (District Mayor Cho Sungmyung) is renovating the Gangnam District Public Haengbok Nursing Hospital (60, Heonreung-ro 590-gil). The district aims to strengthen the hospital’s role as a public medical institution in the community by reorganizing its management system and specializing in dementia care and rehabilitation treatment.

Rehabilitation therapy room at Gangnam-gu Public Happiness Nursing Hospital. Provided by Gangnam-gu.

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Established in 2014 in preparation for a super-aged society, Haengbok Nursing Hospital consists of two basement levels and five above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 18,607 square meters. The hospital has 71 rooms and 300 beds. It operates nine medical departments: internal medicine, neurology, surgery, rehabilitation medicine, family medicine, Korean internal medicine, Korean neuropsychiatry, Korean rehabilitation medicine, and acupuncture and moxibustion.

The district has newly designated Seoul Hyochun Medical Foundation as the operating agency. With the launch of a new management system in January of this year, marking the 50th anniversary of the district office, the plan is to enhance the hospital’s expertise and increase utilization by local residents.

Establishment of a Specialized Dementia Ward

To improve treatment conditions for dementia patients, who make up 64% of all inpatients, the district will invest approximately 2 billion KRW (with national and district funds split 50:50) to convert the existing general ward on the fifth floor (62 beds) into a specialized dementia ward (53 beds). The ward will be designed as a customized space for patients with severe dementia, including inpatient rooms, shared living areas, program rooms, nurse stations, counseling rooms, and bathing facilities. The plan is to strengthen both intensive treatment and support for reintegration into the community. The design process is currently underway, with completion targeted for the end of the year.

Strengthening Specialized Rehabilitation Treatment

The hospital will expand differentiated rehabilitation programs for elderly patients and those with dementia. Cognitive rehabilitation programs will be operated by dementia specialists, and specialized treatment services such as lymphatic massage to alleviate lymphedema after cancer surgery will be introduced.

Teams of experts?including rehabilitation medicine specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers?will provide individualized rehabilitation programs tailored to each patient.

Introduction of State-of-the-Art Rehabilitation Robots

By participating in a public project by the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement, the hospital has formed a consortium with the public health center and Angel Robotics Co., Ltd., and plans to introduce three rehabilitation robots in the second half of this year. The robots to be introduced include one ground walking training robot and two wearable walking assistance robots, which will support gait training and daily life recovery for patients with incomplete lower limb paralysis and musculoskeletal disorders. The introduction of advanced smart rehabilitation therapy is expected to enhance treatment outcomes for patients.

The hospital has also strengthened the expertise of its Hospital Operations Committee to ensure systematic hospital management and the establishment of medical strategies. Last month, eight external experts?including a former president of the Neurology Society and healthcare management specialists?were appointed to establish a professional advisory system. Through this, the hospital aims to further develop its patient-centered management principles and simultaneously strengthen its public service and expertise.

District Mayor Cho Sungmyung stated, "As a public nursing hospital, we will continue to provide support so that we can lead specialized care in dementia and rehabilitation and become a patient-centered hospital that residents can trust."

Gangnam District Public Haengbok Nursing Hospital. Provided by Gangnam District.

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