Gwanak-gu to attach emergency info cards to front doors of residents in need

Seoul's Gwanak-gu announced Friday it will launch a front-door emergency information service to help first responders assist recently discharged patients and residents requiring care during medical emergencies.

The district signed an MOU with Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Hospital — operated by Seoul National University Hospital — and the Seoul Gwanak Fire Station on Aug. 7 to advance the service. Gwanak-gu Mayor Park Jun-hee attended the signing ceremony.

The emergency information cards will list key medical conditions, current medications and guardian contact details. Paramedics responding to emergency calls will use the information to guide on-scene treatment, notify guardians and determine which medical facility to transport the patient to.

"Attaching an envelope-style holder to the front door to provide emergency information is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country," a Gwanak-gu official said. The information will be collected and displayed only with the resident's consent.

The district has been rolling out an integrated care program in earnest since the Act on Integrated Support for Local Care, Including Medical and Long-term Care Services, took effect on March 27. It has established a deliberative body and a public-private network to coordinate care, and has opened a dedicated integrated care hotline.