• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-61
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• 2009

This study focused on finding the variation of medical service utilization, paths of medical service utilization and medical payments of the patients died by cerebrovascular diseases. For this study, data of the one-year episodes of the health insurance subscribers died in 2004 were selected. The frequency of medical visits, the lengths of stays, the days of outpatient visits, the total period of medical services and the total medical payments were compared by the characteristics of the suppliers and utilizers. This study is useful in reviewing the equity of medical service utilization because it analyzed variance in utilization by episodes. In oder to collect accurate data of the patients died by cerebrovascular diseases in 2004 the 2004 reimbursement data of all medical institutions were matched to the data of funeral fee payment by the National Health Insurance Corporation from January 2004 to May 2005. The major results of the study are as follows. The variation of medical service utilization of cerebrovascular diseases was influenced by supplier factors suppliers, such as types and locations of medical institutions and user factors such as sex and age. It was suspected that the reimbursement by fee-for-service contributed to the variation quite a lot, but we could not compare the variation between the different reimbursement systems in Korea. On the basis of analyzing results this study suggests that the factors of suppliers and utilizers should be reviewed to reduce the under use and over use expressed by variations of medical service. The processes of care, effective communication and management system should be investigated for the equity of medical service utilization and also. alternative medical services would be recommended to reduce the high medical payment. Additionally to find other causes of variation further in depth study controling the severity of diseases, socio-economic status of the users and the system factors is required.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-69
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• 2010

The major purpose of this study is to find out relevant factors affecting utilization of Long Term Care Hospitals since the Elderly Long Term Care Insurance System was adopted in Korea. The sample hospitals of this study are 5 long term care hospitals located in 4 big cities and 1 local area. The research data were collected with structured questionnaire from 247 patients and patients' protectors in 5 sample hospitals. Analyzing methods are descriptive statistics, factor analysis and multiple regression with SPSS(version 12.0). Major results of this study are as follows. 1) Utilization and recommendation of patients is affected significantly by the level of hospital facilities (0.043), fee level(0.026), level of staff (0.000), and discomfort of services(0.001). 2) Level of staff is very positively correlated with utilization and recommendation of patients. 3) Discomport of services is very negatively correlated with utilization and recommendation of patients. On the basis of results this study conclude that the management of Long Term Care Hospitals is required conclude to improve the level of staff and facilities and to solve discomport problems of services for patients' marketing. And also more in-depth study on the utilization factors of long term care hospital in Korea is required.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.125-137
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• 2011

This study aims to know whether the Accreditation of Hospitals can help to improve productivity of hospital and affect the conversion factor. Based on the Malmquist productivity Index, the productivity of accredited hospital improves. There exists an tendency that as the scores of Accreditation rises, productivity increases. Also the higher the productivity, the lower the conversion factors in the rigid statistical evidence. This evidence is independent of hospital classification, geographical distribution, grouping. This evidence supports the productivity index can be included in the fee negotiations. It also means that rather than static efficiency, the multi-year change of productivity information can be usefully combined to set a conversion factor in Korean National Insurance Contract especially in the discussion of the structural change of payment system.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.17-39
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• 2010

This study explored the impact on the DRG(Diagnosis-Related Groups)-based prospective payment system(PPS) operated by voluntarily participation providers. We analyzed whether the provides in the DRG-based PPS and in traditional fee-for-service(FFS) systems showed different the degree of variation in length of stay(LOS), and the providers' behaviors depending on the differences according to the varied participation periods. The study sample included all data 2,061 institutions participated in DRG-PPS in 2007 and all cases 473 FFS institutions which reported fee-for-service claims were reviewed same diagnosized diseases at least 10cases claims during three months We compared the differences of the LOS among health care institutions according to their type, region, and size. For DRGs showing significant differences in LOS, multiple regression analyses were performed to find out factors associated with LOS and interaction effect participation and hospital types or participation periods. The result provide the evidence that the DRG payment system operated by volunteering health care institutions had impact on resources use, which can reduce the institutions' the length of stay. While some DRGs had no correlation between participation periods and LOS, other DRGs, DRG participation period reversely linear relationship with LOS. That is to say, the longer participation year, the less reducing the LOS. These results support the future expansion of the DRG-based PPS plan to all health care services in Korea.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.88-104
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• 2002

According to the change of mandatory referral system in July 1, 2000, the effect to the medical utilization of outpatient clinic and medical income in ophthalmology of tertiary care medical institute, S Hospital in Seoul was evaluated for 6 months before(1999. 12$\sim$2000. 5) and after(2000. 12$\sim$2001. 5). The results were as follows: 1. The number of outpatients was reduced by 16.6%. The number of patient with blindness low vision, retina, glaucoma increased and that of patient with accommodation refractive error, cataract decreased. 2. The number of cataract patients was reduced by 36.6%. The major location of patient's address was changed to nearer to the hospital. The number of cataract surgery reduced in 4.1%, the waiting time reduced in 42.2%, however surgery time increased in 20.2% and number of postoperative complications increased in 11.4%. 3. The income of outpatient clinic and cataract surgery reduced. Among items of outpatient clinic income, the most increased was ocular examination and the most reduced was injection and drugs. Among items of cataract surgery income, the most increased was operation fee and the most decreased was doctor's fee. In conclusion, for the patient, due to the lowered density of outpatient population more space was provided to the patients with more severe disease entity such as blindness' low vision, retina and glaucoma. For the hospital, the need for the expansion of ophthalmology was not found, however that for creation of the special clinics dealing with more severe disease entity was found. Due to reduced income and increased need of financial investment for the equipment and manpower for the more severe disease entity, the ophthalmology of tertiary care medical institute is faced with financial disaster. It is strongly suggested that the cost of medical practice of more severe disease entity be raised to achieve the success after change of mandatory referral system in ophthalmology.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2017

Background: We evaluated new patient's satisfactory consultation time (SCT) and their willingness to pay additional costs (WPAC) for their SCT. Methods: We surveyed medical service satisfaction, SCT, WPAC for their SCT, and payable amount to 612 new patients of single general hospital and measured their real consultation time (RCT). To compare WPAC and payable amount, we divided RCT into 4 groups (${\leq}3$ minutes, 3-5 minutes, 5-10 minutes, and > 10 minutes), and SCT into 3 groups (${\leq}5$ minutes, 5-10 minutes, and > 10 minutes). On the basis of WPAC, we estimated new patient's SCT. Results: RCT was 6.2 minutes, SCT was 8.9 minutes, and medical service satisfaction score was 4.3 (out of 5). The number of patients having WPAC (payable group) was 381 (62.3%) and the amount was 5,853 Korean won. Their RCT and SCT were longer than non-payable group (6.4 minutes vs. 5.7 minutes, 9.3 minutes vs. 8.2 minutes). From multiple logistic regression analysis, WPAC of RCT 5-10 minutes was higher than that RCT ${\leq}3$ minutes (odds ratio= 1.78). Payable amount was highest in RCT > 10 minutes (6,950 Korea won) and SCT > 10 minutes (7,458 Korean won). Intuitively we suggest 10 minutes as SCT, based on payable group's SCT (9.3 minutes) and cut-off time differentiating payable group with non-payable group (10 minutes). Conclusion: We found that new patient had WPAC for their SCT and the longer the SCT, the greater the amount. From this, we hope that current simplified new patient consultation fee calculating system should be modified combining the consultation time factor.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.291-301
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• 2024

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of prospective payment systems (PPSs) on cholecystectomy. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, examining studies published until December 2023. The review process focused on identifying research across major databases that reported critical outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), mortality, complications, admissions, readmissions, and costs following PPS for cholecystectomy. The studies were specifically selected for their relevance to the impact of PPS or the transition from fee-for-service (FFS) to PPS. The study analyzed six papers, with three eligible for meta-analysis, to assess the impact of the shift from FFS to PPS in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy procedures. Our findings indicated no significant changes in LOS and mortality rates following the transition from FFS to PPS. Complication rates varied and were influenced by the diagnosis-related group categorization and surgeon cost profiles under episode-based payment. There was a slight increase in admissions and readmissions, and mixed effects on hospital costs and financial margins, suggesting varied responses to PPS for cholecystectomy procedures. The impact of PPS on cholecystectomy is nuanced and varies across different aspects of healthcare delivery. Our findings indicate a need for adaptable, patient-centered PPS models that balance economic efficiency with high-quality patient care. The study emphasizes the importance of considering specific surgical procedures and patient demographics in healthcare payment reforms.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2007

This study focused on finding the variation of medical service utilization and medical payments of the patients died by three, cancers, stomach, breast, and colon cancer. For this study, data of the one-year episodes of the health insurance subscribers died in 2004 were selected. The frequency of medical visits, the lengths of slays, the days of outpatient visits, the total period of medical services and the total medical payments were compared by the characteristics of the suppliers and utilizers. The data of the patients died by cerebrovascular diseases and cancer in 2004 were selected. To select the dead by cerebrovascular diseases and cancer in 2004, were matched the 2004 reimbursement data of all medical institutions to the data of funeral fee payment by the National Health Insurance Corporation from January 2004 to May 2005 for the death in 2004. The results of the analysis were as follow. The variation of medical service utilization of the dead by cancers were not small in Korea. The current study found that the variation of medical care utilization was influenced by the factors of suppliers, such as types and locations of medical institutions and the factors of users, such as sex and age. It was suspected that the reimbursement by fee-for-service contributed to the variation quite a lot, but we could not compare the variation between the different reimbursement systems in Korea. The results of the study suggested that tile factors of suppliers and utilizers should he reviewed to reduce the under use and over use expressed by variations of medical service utilization. The processes of care, effective communication and management system should be investigated for the equity of medical service utilization. Additionally, prospective payment could he recommended to reduce the high variation of medical service Use. To find the variation caused by under use and over use, further study need to control the severity of diseases, socio-economic status of the users and the system factors.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-69
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• 1995

The managerial environment of hospitals in Korea characterized by low levels of medical insurance fees is worsening by increasing government regulations as to the utilization of medical services, rising costs of labor, material, and medical equipments, growing patient expectations concerning the quality of services, and escalating competitions among large hospitals in the market. Hospitals should seek for their survival strategies in this harsh environment and they should have information about costs of their products in doing so. However, it has not been available due to the complexity of the production process of hospital services. The objectives of this study were to develop a service-based cost accounting model and to apply the developed model to a study hospital to obtain cost information of hospital services. A model commonly used for the job-order product cost accounting in the manufacturing industry was modified for the use in hospitals in Korea. Actual costs, instead of standard costs, incurred to produce a unit of services during a given period of time were estimated in the model. Data required to implement the model included financial information, statistics for the allocation of supportive cost center costs to final cost centers, statistics for the allocation of final cost center costs to services, and the volume of each services charged to patients during a study period. The model was executed using data of a university teaching hospital located in Seoul for the fiscal year 1992. Data for financial information, allocation statistics fo supportive service costs, and the volume of services, most of them in electronic form, were available to the study. Data for allocation statistics of final cost center costs were collected in the study. There were 15 types of evaluation and management service, 2, 923 types of technical service, and 2, 608 types of drug and material service charged to patients in the study hospital during the fiscal year 1992. Labor costs of each of seven types of pesonnel, material costs of 611 types of drugs and materials, and depreciation costs of 212 types of medical equipments, miscellaneous costs, and indirect costs incurred in producing a unit of each services were estimated. Medical insurance fees for basic services such as evaluation and management of inpatients and outpatients, injection, and filling prescriptions, and for operating procedures were found to be set lower than costs. Infrequent services which use expensive medical equipments showed negative revenuse as well. On the other hand, fees for services not covered by the insurance such as CT, MRI and Sonogram, and for laboratory tests were higher than costs. This study has a significance in making it possible for a hospital to obtain cost information for all types of services which produced income based on all types of expenses incurred during a given period of time. This information can assist the management of a hospital in finding an effective cost reduction strategy, an efficient service-mix strategy under a given fee structure, and an optimum strategy for within-hospital resource allocations.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.119-145
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to inspect how the law effected on hospital employment system and which policy and strategy are needed to cope with the present situation as the law regarding irregular workers law has enacted for a year. To grasp the changes of employment style in hospital, 56 hospitals among 311 general hospitals were questioned in this study. And employment policy and strategy were developed by referencing examples of developed nations and other industries. The survey showed that the wage and welfare level of irregular workers in hospitals was improved compared to that in the other industries. But there were still much discrimination between regular and irregular workers. The policy direction of government is, first of all, to follow the principle of equal treatment to equal value of labour. The first feasible policy is to enforce social security. The second one is an employment promotion policy which reduces or exempts hospitals employing irregular workers from tax and insurance fee. The third one is to extend employment contract period to 3 years. and finally there are policies to permit more dispatched jobs and to expand the social insurance coverage. The strategies to solve the problem of irregular workers are as follows; 1) performance wage system, 2) guaranteeing employment by unlimited contract, 3) creating new category of workers, 4) the wage system of management by object, 5) the method of job classification. This study has a meaning in the point that it was studied on hospital which is special industrial part and analyzed the changes after enacting irregular workers law and presented management strategy for countermeaure program. In this study, it was expected to contribute to decisions-making in hospital management, especially when using human resources.