• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.321-332
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• 2013

Purpose: Korean health insurance extended application of the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) payment system to tertiary and general hospitals from July, 2013. This study was done to develop a DRG fee adjustment mechanism applied to levels of nurse staffing to assure quality nursing service. Methods: Nurse stafffing grades among hospitals in Korea were analyzed. Differences and ratio of inpatient costs by nurse staffing grades in DRG fees and differences of DRG fee between tertiary and general hospitals were compared. Results: In 2013, nurse staffing grades in tertiary and general hospitals had improved, but other hospital nurse staffing grades remained at the 2001 level. Gaps of inpatient costs between first and seventh nurse staffing grades were over 10% in 4 out of 7 DRG diagnosis; However differences of DRG fee between tertiary and general hospitals were only 4.51% and 4.72% respectively. A DRG fee adjustment mechanism was developed that included nurse staffing grades and hospitalization days as factors of the formula. Conclusion: Current DRG fees motivate hospitals to decrease nurse staffing grades because cost reduction is bigger than compensation. This DRG fee adjustment mechanism reflects nurse staffing supply to motivate hospitals to hire more nurses as a reasonable compensation system.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2008

Purpose: To examine the current fees for nursing care and propose the strategies for improvement. Method: The number of subjects for this study was 86, including 36 chief executives of the nursing department, 14 of the health insurance department and 33 nursing managers. Data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 12.0 program. A researcher-developed questionnaire with 30 items was utilized. Results: 61% hospital had improved the nursing management fee grade after adoption of the differentiated nursing management fee schedules. After grade improvement, the time for direct nursing care increased. Also, the patient health outcome, nurse's job satisfaction were improved and more nurses were employed in general nursing units. Many subjects addressed that ICU and more nursing units were needed to adopt the differentiated nursing management fee schedules and "bed to nurse ratio" needed to be changed to "patients to nurse ratio" and specialized by the nursing units. Conclusion: The health policy in reference to fees for nursing care needs to get improved further in order to provide the quality-assured nursing care.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.122-136
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• 2022

Purpose: This study attempted to recommend a revision of inpatient nursing fees based on analyzing current and appropriate staffing levels. Methods: Staffing grades and their inpatient nursing fees as of the first quarter of 2022 were analyzed. Nurse managers and staff nurses answered surveys about the current and appropriate staffing levels, working days, and monthly salary. A total of 101 nurse managers and 588 staff nurses working in general wards at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals participated in the study. Results: The results showed that grade 1 staffing was found in 73.3% of tertiary hospitals and 63.7% of general hospitals. The current staffing ratios of tertiary hospitals and general hospitals were 1:9.3 and 1:10.4, respectively. The appropriate staffing ratios according to nurse managers and staff nurses at tertiary hospitals were 1:7.6 and 1:7.0, respectively, and 1:8.7 and 1:8.8 in general hospitals, respectively. The average estimated annual working days of staff nurses were 235.2 days in tertiary hospitals and 240.0 days in general hospitals. The median monthly salary for staff nurses was 4.957 million won in tertiary hospitals and 4.140 million won in general hospitals. The new staffing grade system was suggested from 1:6 (Grade 1) to 1:12 (Grade 5). The new inpatient nursing fee schedules were recommended to be paid based on nursing hours per patient day of each grade. Conclusion: The new staffing grade and inpatient nursing fee schedules are expected to increase staffing levels, improve the quality of nursing care, and provide a better work environment for nurses.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.95-105
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between direct and indirect nursing activity times according to the grade of nursing management fee. Methods: The subjects of this study were 324 working nurses at the time of 3rd grade and 319 working nurses at the 2nd grade of nursing management fee in one university hospital. Nursing activity time was measured in April and May, and in September and October of 2008 for comparison. The data were analyzed by SPSS win using frequency and t-test. Results: Direct nursing care activity time per one patient was significantly higher at 2nd grade than 3rd grade in day shift (t=-2.55, p=.012). Direct nursing care workload per one nurse was significantly lower at 2nd grade than 3rd grade in evening shift (t=2.21, p=.030), whereas indirect nursing care workload was lower at 2nd level in night shift (t=2.43 p=.016). Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that higher nurse-to-patient ratio can provide greater amount of direct nursing care activity for the patient. Also, it decreased workload of nurses. The higher nurse-to-patient ratio will be beneficial for promoting quality of nursing care as well as decreasing nurse's heavy workload.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.122-129
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the difference of direct nursing activity and patient outcomes as mortality rate, complication rate, readmission rate and length of stay related to graded fee of nursing management for inpatient. Method: The subjects of this study were 44 general hospitals with more than 500 beds. Data totaled to 86,044 claims provided to inpatients in Jan. 2001 requested by an electronic data interchange from a Health Insurance Review Agency. The data was analyzed by SPSS win(ver.10.0) and statistical methods used were frequency, one-way ANOVA, $X^2$-Test and regression. Result: Synthetic judgment through performance index and 95% confidence interval, direct nursing activity showed to provided adequate quality of nursing care on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th nursing degree. Also, patient outcomes showed difference by graded fee of nursing management for inpatient. Mortality rate of 2nd was the lowest with P.I. 67.9, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 4th in order. In case of complication rate, 2nd, 3rd and 4th were lower than other nursing degree. Readmission rate of 4th and 5th was the lowest. Length of stay of 2nd was the shortest with P.I. 88.3, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 4th, 6th in order. Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that, the higher nurse-to-patient ratio, the greater amount of direct nursing care activity for the patient. Also, the more direct nursing activities influenced a lower mortality rate, complication rate and readmission rate, shorter length of stay.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.222-231
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• 2007

Purpose: This study aims to suggest political alternatives for nursing care costs for PCAs to provide qualitative medical benefit for patients with occupational disease by investigating present situation and problems of the nursing care cost system of Korea's Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance. Methods: Data was collected from 6 workers' accident medical corporation and 275 nurses affiliated with Korea labor welfare corporation using self reported questionnaire. Result: Research results were as follows; Character of nursing care cost of the Korea's Industrial accident Compensation Insurance changed as if it aims to support for living expenses for the family; As possible problems which could be caused under current system, administrative problems, decrease of service quality were made as objects of criticism. Some patients did not make every effort in rehabilitation to be beneficiaries continuously. Some patients were supplied with whole one PCA or all-night PCA even though they did not need as much caring as such. Conclusion: The research suggested that PCAs payment system improvement is necessary, and the presented nurses' opinion for the improvement method could be applied for policy making.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.531-548
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• 1991

To assess the adequacy of medical manpower and medical fee for the newborn nursery care, the author visited 20 out of 24 hospitals with the pediatric training program in Youngnam area between July 29 and August 14, 1991. Total number of newborn, both normal and sick, admission and discharge in 1-30 June 1991 was obtained from the logbook of nursery. Head nurse and staff pediatrician of the nursery were interviewed to get the current staffing for the nursery and their subjective opinion on the adequacy of nursery manpower and the difficulties in recruiting manpower. Average medical fee charged for the maternity and normal newborn nursery care was obtained from the division of self-audit of medical insurance claim of each hospital. Average minimum requirement of nursing care time for one normal newborn per day was 179.5 (${\pm}58.6$) minutes; 202.3(${\pm}50.7$) minutes for the university hospitals and 164.2(${\pm}60.5$) minutes for the general hospitals. The ratio of minimum requirement of nursing care time and available nursing time was 1.42 on the average. Taking the additional requirement of nursing care for the sick newborns into consideration, the ratio was 2.06. The numbers of R. N. and A. N. in the nurserys of study hospitals were 31%, and 17%, respectively, of the nursing manpower for the nursery recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These findings indicate that the nursing manpower in newborn nursery is in severe shortage. Ninety percent of the head nurses and 85% of the staff pediatrician stated that the newborn nursery is short of R.N. and 75% of them said that the nurse's aide is also short. Major reason for not recruiting R.N. was the financial constraint of hospital. For the recruitment of nurse's aide, short supply was the second most important reason next to the financial constraint. However, limit of quarter in T.O. was the mar reason for the national university hospitals. Average total medical fee for the maternity and newborn nursery cares of a normal vaginal delivery who stayed two nights and three days at hospital was 219,430won. Out of the total medical fee, 20,323won(9.3%) was for the newborn nursery care. In case of C-section delivery who stayed six nights and seven days, total medical fee was 732,578won and out of the total fee 76,937won (12.0%) was for the newborn care. Cost for a newborn care per day by cost accounting was 16,141won for the tertiary care hospitals and 14,576won for the all other hopitals. The ratio of cost and the fee schedule of the medical insurance for a newborn care per day was 5.0 for the tertiary care hospitals and 4.9 for the all other hospitals. Considering the current wage level of the medical personnel, capital investment for the hospital facilities and equipments, and the cost for hospital maintenance, it is hard to expect adequate quality care in the newborn nursery under the current medical insurance fee schedule.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.312-326
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• 2023

Purpose: This study attempted to analyze the staffing level and critical care nursing fees of intensive care units at tertiary and general hospitals and to provide a professional judgment-based recommendation on staffing level and critical care nursing fee schedules. Methods: Staffing grades and critical care nursing fee schedules for the first quarter of 2017~2020 and the fourth quarter of 2020~2022 were analyzed. A survey was conducted on nursing managers and nurses about the current and appropriate staffing levels. A total of 77 nurse managers and 708 nurses working in Intensive Care Unit(ICU)s at tertiary and general hospitals participated in the study. Results: Grade 1 staffing increased from 25.6% in 2017 to 92.1% in 2022 at tertiary hospitals and from 0.8% in 2017 to 28.4% in 2022 at general hospitals. The current staffing ratios of tertiary and general hospitals were 1:2.21 and 1:2.77, respectively. The appropriate staffing ratio according to nurse managers and nurses was 1:1.00 in patients with more than a ventilator application and 1:2.00 in patients without any ventilator application in tertiary hospitals, and it was 1:1.25 in patients with more than a ventilator application and 1:2.00 in patients without any ventilator application in general hospitals, respectively. Conclusion: The appropriate staffing level was suggested from 1:1.0 to 1:2.0. The new nursing fee schedules were suggested from 1:1.0 (Grade 1) to 1:3.0 (Grade 5) and recommended to be paid based on the staffing grade, minimum number of nurses, and standard annual working days. It is expected to increase staffing levels and provide a better nursing work environment.

• The Inventors News
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• no.52
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• pp.1-16
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• 2006

'2006 여성발명인걷기대회' 성황리에 마쳐/여성의 힘을 발명으로 승화하자/건강관리휴대폰 기술, 특허출원 급증/세계적 귄위 인명사전 '마르퀴즈 후즈후' 등재/고객 감동 주는 독특한 기능성 명함 등장/각 국의 상표 디자인 동향/현장 스케치/6백만불의 사나이 현실화 되다/핸드라이팅 전자펜 국내 최초 개발/특허법원이 지금 어떤 일이/중기청, 가짜 여성기업 골라 낸다/'여성 취업.창업정보 여기에 다 있어요'/중기청 여성기업.혁신형중기.재래시장 집중지원/'코리아나화장품 식물원' 개원/국민은행 '명품 여성통장' 대박/난방비 획기적 절감, '전기온풍기' 나와/3백50년 묵은 덧간장, $1\ell$ 5백만원에 팔려/한국기술거래소, 중소기업 기술 장터로 각광/순대, 기능성 음식으로 진화/해외 화제/역사 속의 발명품/하루 10분 발명교실/특허Q&A/함씨네토종콩식품 함정희 대표/중기청연구장비공동이용알선.중개계획/가짜 '메이드 인 코리아'중동지역서 판친다/아이디어 착상 및 발명 기법/여성의 사회참여 확대와 여성발명 확산/인공감미료를 만들어 낸 사람들/'중소기업청장 조찬간담회' 열려/휴면 특허율 66.8% 지식 경쟁력 걸림돌/발명가.의사 등 '이그노벨상' 수상/한국여성발명협회 '자문위원 위촉식' 갖다/한미영 회장, 간호용품아이디어대회 특강/발명인의 전당.특허고객서비스센터 오픈/여성발명인, 산재권 교육 참가 열의 높아져/생활 아이디어/11월 '지재권 및 여성발명 창의교실' 개최 안내/한국여성발명협회 회원사 발명품 가이드

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2013

Purpose. To examine the orientation of the eco-friendly Health care service on korean Hospital nurses Methods. Between October 2012 and November 2012, two hundred eighty five nurses (mean age, $25{\pm}17$ years; age range, 22~42yrears) were enrolled in this study. They performed a questionnaire which related to environmental problem, hospital infectious wastes manage and eco-friendly care service orientation. Results. Within the results, There were statistically significant correlation between "Hospital infectious wastes management" and "environmental problem awareness"(r=0.45, p<.001), "eco-friendly care service orientation"and "environmental problem awareness" (r=0.48, p<.001), and "eco-friendly Health care service orientaton" and "Hospital infectious wastes management"(r=0.50, p<.001). Conclusions. In current study, these results express that it is necessary to promote environmental problem awareness and hospital infectious wastes management practice for the "orientation of the eco-friendly Health care service on korean hospital nuurses.