Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide comprehensive information of qualification systems of developed countries needed to establish our national system for QI(Quality improvement) specialists. Methods: All articles related to any applicable domestic or foreign countries' laws, operational status, and detailed programs for professional qualification system of QI were reviewed. Result: In the United States, a non-profit organization, Healthcare Quality Certification Commission (HQCC) has set the policies, procedures and standards in the field of health care quality. And qualification system of CPHQ (certified professional in healthcare quality) has been operated in order to authenticate the qualifications in the field of quality management. IBQH(international Board for quality in healthcare), a qualification system of experts in the United Kingdom, was designed to assist the qualification of professionals to improve the quality of healthcare. In addition, Health Research Center of Feinberg School of Medicine in Northwestern University has been operating Master's and doctoral degree programs in the field of the quality of care and patient safety and IHI (institute for healthcare improvement) open school was operating a professional training course related to the quality of care and patient safety. Conclusion: Quantity and complexity of information of the quality of care and patient safety have been increased. For reform of the health care system, a special training course of the expertise and leadership are needed. So far, there is no national professional certification courses in our nation. Therefore essential job skill should be acquired individually. For systematic and effective quality improvement activities, the educational and certification system with professional development model are needed.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to find a way to effectively introduce accreditation for ambulatory health care organization by identifying the physicians' attitude for accreditation and characteristics that affect thei r attitude. Methods: A web survey was conducted from February 15 to March 4, 2011 for 183 physicians who work in ambulatory health care organizations throughout the nation. Self-reported questionnaire was used for this study. SPSS WIN(version 12.0) was utilized for statistical analysis. Results: Physician's attitude towards accreditation for ambulatory health care organization was positive(25.7%), moderate(39.3%), and negative(35.0%). Clinics that practice as a group or which treat more patients per day showed more positive attitude(p<0.05). The result of ordinal regression analysis indicates the groups with daily patients over 100 showed 36.3 times more positive attitude than the one under 75(p<0.05). Conclusion: The accreditation for ambulatory health care organization has not been throughly discussed yet. Many physicians did not have knowledge about accreditation. Clinics that see more patients per day had more positive attitude for accreditation. It indicates the cost may play important role in voluntary participation in accreditation.

Objectives : Suicide is a serious sentinel event in healthcare organization. Suicide and suicidal attempt are fatal and long lasting mental and physical damage to themselves, family, and medical staffs. To develope the system to prevent suicidal accident in hospital, we reviewed and analysed one case of suicidal sentinel event. Methods: The risks of suicidal sentinel event were evaluated and analysed through the root cause analysis and failure mode effects analysis. Result: We found several root causes such as initial assessment of oldest patient and security issues. Couple of action plans to fix the problems were done immediately. According to failure mode, we evaluate the risk priority number to modify the action plans. Conclusion: To reduce the risk of sentinel events, we reviewed the suicidal event and established the new system and action plan to prevent sentinel events.

Background: This study investigates improvements in non-value-added nursing activities in clinical work, in order to improve the efficiency and quality of nursing activities. Methods: The study was performed as a quality improvement project at a tertiary general hospital. The nursing activities that needed improvements were categories into admission care, discharge care, supply management, diagnostic work-up related activities, and others. The nursing time and frequency of non-value-added activities were compared across nine nursing units before and after implementation of the quality improvement program. Post-implementation patient and nurse satisfaction were subsequently analyzed. Result: Post-implementation, the time spent on non-value-added nursing activities was reduced and patients and nurses were satisfied with the improvements. Discussion: Reducing non-value-added activities in nursing can increase the work efficiency and ensure time for patient care, thus improving the quality of nursing care. For further study, accurate surveys on nursing activities based on nursing time are required.

Objectives: With the increase in the number of people who are marginalized in receiving medical services, the role of Seoul National University Hospital as a public hospital is being emphasized. However, many patients are either experiencing delays in receiving medical services or simply being left out as a result of the inaccessibility to the department of social work on part of both the patients and the medical staff. Methods: In order to increase consultation from other departments and the accessibility to the department of social work for the socially marginalized group through early consultation from other departments, the following steps were taken. First, an orientation program for novice medical residents led by clinical social worker was introduced/implemented. Second, posters and brochures on various financial aids programs were produced and distributed. Third, a system of early screening was built/constructed, and once a week rounds and early screening meeting were executed/carried out. Result: The department of social work's rate of consultation from other departments increased by 4.4% compared to last year, while it showed 61% increase for those wards that had an early screening meeting. In addition, the average time of consultation from other departments was reduced by 3.1 days, securing sufficient amount of time for clinical social work services, both in terms of quality and quantity. Conclusion: It is believed that the various promotional activities, along with the strengthening of accessibility to clinical social work services and early consultation on part of social disadvantaged/marginalized group, would undoubtedly help provide quality services to patients and increase their level of satisfaction. In this way, the wards can effectively reduce the number of unnecessary hospital stay days while the hospital can prevent the accumulation of outstanding bills/fees as well as contribute to the publicness of hospitals. The promotion of clinical social work programs in various ways are crucial to ensuring the satisfaction of patients and hospital staff.