• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.669-689
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• 2002

Purpose : The purpose of the present study is to develop a clinical pathway applied with activity-based management methodology for efficient clinical management to cope with rapid changing medical environments. Method : After making a preliminary pathway based on which a conceptual frame of reference was established to develop a clinical pathway, the final one was confirmed by verifying experts validity and clinical validity. The ultimate activity-based clinical pathway was restructured after clarifying, schematizing and analyzing the whole activities of clinical pathway in accordance with the conducting process of activity-based management. Result : A clinical pathway for total hip replacement was developed, in which the vertical axis consisted of assessment, examination, consultation, medication, treatment, diet, activity, and education, and the horizontal axis was composed of six days of hospitalization. Then, on the basis of the development, the clinical pathway including the improved contents and information was restructured after making the reform measure by analyzing each of activities in the pathway. And the list of contents related to the clinical management activity was made, which was described its main contents and the pre-activities that ought to be completed before conducting each of activities in the pathway. Conclusion : The clinical pathway applied with activity-based management may be used as a standard guidance for providing continuous and consistent patient care. It will provide the information for nursing activities to nurses and the management information about hospital and nursing activities to the hospital administrators. It will also be used as a tool for communication between medical staff. Besides, it will contribute to creating profits for the hospital by shortening the length of stay in patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.23-44
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to investigate the accomodations for the disabled children of the elementary schools in Suwon and to give helpful information to the parents and teachers for the improvement of the independence of disabled children at school. We measured the ramps, toilets, doorways and other accomodations in 64 elementary schools according to the checklists. The checklists of these facilities were based on the legal requirements of "The Act for the Benefit of the Disabled, Elderly and Pregnant Women". The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and the ${\chi}^2$ test. None of the investigated schools satisfied all the legal requirements of the facilities. Fifteen elementary schools had adequate accomodations for the disabled children which allowed them to move independently from the entrance of the school to their classrooms located on the first floor. Only eight of fifteen schools had elevators to access their classrooms upstairs. The schools were divided into two groups according to their construction dates; before and after April 11th 1998, when "The Act for the Benefit of the Disabled, Elderly and Pregnant Women" took effect. There were statistically significant differences in the number of toilets, the width of the toilet entrance, and the slope of the ramps between the two groups (p<.05). We suggest that the accomodations for the disabled children need to be established on a systematic and on-going basis in the future. The teachers and administrators should be more aware of the legal requirements for appropriate accomodations for the disabled children.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.189-201
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop the nursing management core task and competency matrix for hospital unit managers. The perceived level of importance and performance of identified core competencies by unit managers were also investigated. Methods: Literature review and expert survey identified nursing management core task and competencies. Subsequently, the core task and competency matrix was developed and validated by expert panel. A survey of 196 nurse managers from 3 cities identified perceived importance and performance of core competiences. Results: Thirty-eight nursing management core task and thirty-seven nursing management core competencies were identified comprising five categories; Clinical practice knowledge, Evidence-based practice, Employee development, Strategic planning and Initiative. Based on the core task and competencies, the task and competency matrix for unit managers was developed. In the analysis of importance and performance of core competencies, the mean score of importance ($3.50{\pm}0.30$) was higher than the mean score of performance ($3.03{\pm}0.34$). Conclusion: The development of core task and competencies for unit managers in hospitals provides a guide for the development and evaluation of programs designed to increase competence of unit managers.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2014

It is necessary to calculate prime cost of medical services accurately in order to evaluate the adequacy of medical fee. This paper aims to identify cost analysts' perception on prime cost of medical services and needs in establishing a cost accounting system in hospitals, proposing future directions and guidelines for the calculation of medical fee. A self-administered questionnaire and telephone survey on operation of a hospital cost-accounting system was conducted in November, 2012, among cost analysts currently working in the hospitals and hospital administrators planning to implement the hospital cost-accounting system. Our study shows that most of the cost analysts were aware of the importance of calculating prime cost and responded that collection of the prime cost data from government is necessary although they are less likely to provide the data in the future concerning the risk of data misuse and data security. They also responded that lack of budget allocation and excessive workload were the main reasons for not estimating the prime cost and operating cost management information system. Results show that hospital cost analysts considered the data accuracy is the most critical factor in calculating prime costs of medical services. However, there was no investment budget allocated in some hospitals or limited to less than 100 million, indicating that hospitals are reluctant to invest on implementing the cost accounting system. Respondents stated the organization that collects the prime cost of medical services among hospitals should display strong analytical capabilities, ensure data security, and maintain independence, which is most demanded. There are 57 hospitals that calculated the prime cost of medical services for 2012 by each medical department and 20 hospitals that calculated the prime cost by fee-for-services, aiming to establish a cost accounting system. Our results indicate that hospitals should voluntarily provide the accurate prime cost for medical services in order to properly evaluate the adequacy of medical fee. Consequently, it is critical to establish an independent organization to collect and appraise the data. It is also recommended that government should implement various policies to encourage hospitals to participate in the data collection to achieve the data accuracy and representativeness.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.108-122
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• 1986

Changing concepts of health care, are stimulating the demand for health care, thereby orienting society to health care rights to such an extent that they are deemed as fundamental ones inalienable to man. Concomitantly, qualitative as well as quantative improvement is being sought in the nursing service field. Today, efforts are being made in various areas, especially to qualitatively improve nursing services. A second issue concerns proper staffing. It is important to study staffing, in as much as it continues to be the most persistent and critical problem facing hospital nursing administrators today. It involves quantity, quality, and utilization of nursing personnel. A great deal of attention has been focused on this problem since mid 1930's when nursing services began to be felt as an important segment of hospital operation representing the largest single item of hospital budgets. Traditionally, the determination and allocation of nursing personnel resources has relied heavily on gloval approaches which make use of fixed staff-to-patient ratios. It has long been recognized that these ratios are insensitive to variations between institutions and among individual patients. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to point to the urgent need for the development of methodology and criteria suited to the reality of Korea. The present research selected one place, the W Christian Hospital, and was conducted over a period 10 days from January, and nurses who were them on duty in their unit. The total num-her of patients surveyed was 1,426 and that of 354. The research represents many variables affecting the direct patient care time using the result from the direct observation method, then using a calculation method to estimate the relationship between the patients care time and selected variables in the hospital setting. The amount of direct patient care time varies with many factors, such 89 the patients age. diagnosis and time in hospital. Differences are also found from hospital, clinic to clinic, ward to ward, and even shift to shift. In this research, the calculation method of estimating the required member of nursing staff is obtained by dividing the time of productive patient care activity(with the time of patient care observed), by the sum of the productive time that each the staff can supply, i.e., 360 minutes, which is obtained by deducting the time for personal activities. The results indicate a substantial difference between the time of productive patient care observed directing and the time of the productive patient care estimated using calculating method. If we know accurately the time of the direct patient care on a shift, there required number of staff members calculated if the proper method can be determinded should be able the time of the direct patient care be estimated by the patient classification system, but this research has shown this system to be in accurate in Korea. There are differences in the recommended time of productive patient care and the required number of nursing staff depending upon which method is used. The calculated result is not very accurate, so more research is needed on the patient classification system.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.176-197
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• 2002

Backgound : This study is to suggest the standardized format of the clinical sheets and the standardized items of every clinical sheet. The standardization of the medical records will increase the faithfullnes of the contents in them and it will contribute to construct the good health information system. Method : From Jan. 1st. 2001 to March 31st 2001, we gathered as many paper clinical sheets as possible by every class of institutions to review the faithfulness of the clinical contents in them. Clinical sheets of 9 tertiary care hospitals, 6 general hospitals and 56 clinics were gathered. Two experienced medical record administrators reviewed them. The review focus was to check whether the items recommend by the hospital standardization review criteria and hospital service evaluation organization were appeared in the clinical sheets and whether the contents of every item were written. Results : Tertiary care hospitals; In case of administrative data, the contents were filled well if the items were fixed. The clinical data like C.C, history,physical examiniation were filled well, but if the items were not fixed, some items were omitted. The result is that more items are to be filled if they are fixed. General hospitals Administrative data were filled more than 50%. Final diagnosis was filled about 66.7%.But other clinical data were not filled well and not many clinical related items were appeared in the sheets.In the legal point of view, the reason for visiting hosptals or the right diagnosis, patient condition at discharge could not be confirmed well.In surgery cases, surgical procedures could not be confirmed well as many surgical related information(surgery time, fluids and blood, number of sponges, biopsy, etc) were omitted. Clinics More than 70% administrative data were filled and fixed as items. Among the clinical related data, laboratory result was the most credible data. But without the right diagnosis, drug orders were given and doctors' written signatures were not appeared over 96.4%. So the clinical sheets cannot be used as a legal document. Conculusion : There was a tendency that the contents were filled well if the items were fixed in the documents, We also suggest a clinical check list to review the completeness and faithfulness of the clinical sheets. If many hospitals use the suggested clincal check list and if they make the necessary items fixed in the clinical sheets, the quality of the medical record will increase dramatically.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.27-64
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• 1988

Most hospital administrators in our country have doubted whether or not the size of their hospital personnel staffs, and the personnel management styles implemented are efficient or not. Actually, increased personnel expenditures due to sophisticated specialization of medical practices has become the biggest hospital expense. Therefore, it is said that hospitals can be run move efficiently by implementing reasonable management strategies for hospital personnel management. In this paper, the departments of diagnostic radiography in 16 general hospitals in Seoul, which were classified into 4 groups by the scale of hospital beds, were used as sample cases. Then, the data for the number of X-ray examination by diagnostic item was collected from sample hospitals. The unit hour spent on X-ray examinations in each diagnostic service was quoted from "A Study on setting-up of the relative value units of medical services and on the structure of current fee schedules" written by Mr. Ik Je Seong. The data analysis results are as follows; First, the number of hours per day spent on X-ray examinations in 13 hospitals out of 16 hospitals, was shorter than the general daily working hours (8 hours). Second, in the morning there was not enough time to work for X-ray examinations required, with the available manpower. In the afternoon, however, the situation was diametrically opposed to that in the morning. Third, in light of above results, though most hospitals employ sufficient personnel for the quantity of the actural work, they were always short-handed where their works were performed Fourth, this study tells us that there is a maldistribution of the work in the schedule : too much work for the available personnel in the morning. The following recommendations are resulted from the data analysis described above. First, it is recommended that all out-patients coming again, except specific patients(G. B. or I.V.P. etc) who have to have their X-ray examinations on an empty stomach in the morning among out-patients, be required to visit the hospital in the afternoon. Second, it is recommended that all new out-patients be required to make a reservation in order to equalize the number of patients throughout the day. Third, it is recommended that all in-patients, except specified patients, be arranged to have their X-ray examinations in the afternoon. Fourth, it is recommended that part time workers be employed during peak hours. This recommendation, if applied in a wider scale, would allow hospitals to overcome the problem of the maldistribution of work and personnel, and then more efficient hospital management through the appropirate personnel management procedures could be expected.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.129-155
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• 2000

This empirical study, activity-based costing, a newly introduced approach that has proved to be an improvement over the conventional costing system in product or service costing, is applied at department of clinical pathology in K university hospital. The study subjects were 233 test procedures done in clinical laboratory of K university hospital. Activity analysis was done by interview, questionnaires, and time study, and the amount of resources consumed by each activity and their costs are then traced and applied to the laboratory tests. The main purpose of this study were to compare the test costs of activity-bases costing with those of conventional costing, and test fees of medical insurance, and to provide accurate cost informations for the decision makers of hospital. The major findings of this study were as belows. 1. The cost drivers for application of activity-based costing at clinical laboratory were cases of sample collection, case of specimen, cases of test, and volume-related allocation bases such as direct labor hours and total revenue of each test. 2. The profits of each clinical laboratory fields analyzed by conventional costing were different from the profits analyzed by activity-based costing, especially in the field of Urinalysis(approximately over estimated 750%). 3. The standard full costs by conventional costing were quite different from the costs computed by using activity-based costing, and the difference is most significant with the tests of long labor time. 4. From the comparison between costs computed by using activity-based costing and medical insurance fees, some test fees were significantly lower than the costs, especially in the non-automated fields. As described in this study, activity-based costing provides more accurate cost information than does conventional costing system. The former approach is especially important in the health care industry including hospitals in which planning and controlling the costs services provided are the key to maintaining a healthy financial status for the organization. Despite the contribution of activity-based costing the economic as well as technical feasibilities of implementing such a cost accounting system in an organization must be evaluated. In the development of activity-based costing systems, an activity analysis has to be conducted to identify activities that consume resources. This involves a detailed study of the organization's logistics and accounting information systems, and it is an expensive project in itself. Besides, it can be quite difficult and time consuming to identify and trace resource consumption to a specific activity. Thus the activity-based costing system should be implemented only when the decrease in cost of error far exceeds the increase in cost of measurement. By combining activity-based costing with standard costing, health care administrators can better plan and control the costs of health services provided while ensuring that the organization's bottom line is healthy.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.114-136
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• 1997

This study was carried out to find out the effect of conflict between profession groups within medical institution. For the purpose, the questionnaire-based research was done with 605 persons consisting of specialists, residents, nurses, radiologic technicians, clinicopatholigic technicians, health record administrator, administrative employees who are working in a university hospital located in Taegu City from February 15, 1997 to March 2, 1997. The results of the study were summarized as follows. The subject profession group against which each profession group feels the most conflict in interprofession mutual recognition relation was found out as follows; Specialists(34%) against colleague specialists, residents(54.0%) against nurses, nurses(54.8%) against residents, radiologic technicians(44.0%) against residents, and clinicopathologic technicians(34.5%) against nurses, while it was shown that health record administrator felt even conflict against residents, nurses and administrative employees and administrative employees(48.1) did against nurses. Most employee group answered that medical specialists have a one-sided and individual attitude toward all affairs, while both medical specialists and administrative employees of hospital answered that nurses are one-sided. It was shown among such groups that radiologic technicians' conflict results from their thinking which mutual dependence and cooperation are lowest while individual difference is highest, clinicopatholigic technicians' conflict from the problem in mutual communication, medical specialists' conflict from difference in goals greater than other group, respectively lower than other group. The rate of vertical conflict between groups was highest for the health record administrators and then for the radiological technicians, while it was lowest for the medical specialists and then for the nurses. In addition, the rate of horizontal conflict was high for both medical specialists and nurses, but it was low for the health record administrations and clinicopathological technicians. The group with the highest job satisfaction was the medical specialists and nurses, and the group with the highest involvement in organization was the medical specialists and administrative employees. Also it was shown that both medical specialists and clinicopathological technicians show a favorable attitude toward patients. Factors having an effect on the vertical conflict included difference in goals, cooperation within group and leadership. It was shown among those factors, however, that only the leadership has an effect on all the groups evenly. The horizontal conflict was influenced by such factors as educational level, mutual dependence, difference in goals, cooperation within group, and individual difference, when an important factor was the difference in goals for all the groups. Their attitude toward patients was influenced by the vertical conflict and age, but the vertical conflict was the most significant factor for the medical specialists. In conclusion, it is required to control properly the conflict between employees as well as between profession group and to execute good leadership, so as to improve patients' satisfaction which is the key goal of hospital.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the turnover intention model for chief nurse officers in general hospitals. The variables for the study included job stress, social support, job satisfaction, and organization commitment. Methods: A predictive, non-experimental design was used with a sample of 144 chief nurse officers from 144 general hospitals. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS, AMOS program. Results: The overall fitness of the hypothetical model to the data was good (${\chi}^2$=16.80, p=.052, GFI=.96, AGFI=.90, NFI=.97, CFI=.99). Job stress, social support, job satisfaction, and organization commitment explained 59.0% of the variance in turnover intention by chief nurse officers. Both organization commitment and social support directly influenced turnover intention for chief nurse officers, and job stress and job satisfaction indirectly influenced turnover intention. Conclusion: The results imply that chief nurse officers in hospitals need social support and management of job stress to increase job satisfaction and organization commitment, and lower turnover intention.