• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate determinants of purchasing indemnity private health insurance and its impact on the healthcare utilization among outpatients with chronic disease. Methods: The study analyzed 4,997 chronic ill patients using 2015 Korean Health Panel data. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the factors affecting the purchase of indemnity private health insurance and multiple regression analysis was conducted to analyze the effect of private health insurance on the number of outpatient visits and outpatient expenditures. Findings: The age, education level, and number of chronic diseases were significant factors affecting the purchasing of indemnity private health insurance among chronic patients. As a result of analyzing the impact of indemnity private health insurance on healthcare utilization, the number of outpatient visits for those who enrolled in the indemnity private health insurance was higher than the number of outpatient visits for those who did not. But there was no statistically significant difference in outpatient medical expenses. Practical Implications: The results of this study shows that indemnity private health insurance may cause inequality in the healthcare utilization of the socially vulnerable. It is necessary to seek ways to strengthen the health security of chronic disease patients and high-risk elderly people who need more healthcare.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.47-57
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• 2023

Purpose: Health expenditure and utilization of Korean medicine are increasing every year. Since Chuna Manual Therapy was covered by National Health Insurance in 2019, it is predicted that the usage of Chuna Manual Therapy would be also increasing. However, there are few studies about Chuna Manual Therapy using Korean National Health Insurance claims database. Therefore, we will investigate the utilization trend of outpatient's Chuna Manual Therapy using Korean National Health Insurance database and suggest political implications. Methodology: The Korean National Health Insurance claims database was used to identify outpatient's Chuna Manual Therapy usage spanning 4 years from 2019-2023 and the number of Chuna Manual Therapy claims were approximately 18.61 million. Findings: The number of Chuna Manual Therapy claims and patients, health expenditure of Chuna Manual Therapy have been increasing spanning 4 years among over 65 aged. In the case of female patients, the number of Chuna Manual Therapy claims was more than male patients and health spending related to Chuna Manual Therapy was also higher than male patients. Most patients visited Korean medicine clinics due to musculoskeletal diseases, and most claims were from rural regions. Practical Implication: Since Chuna Manual Therapy was covered by National Health Insurance in 2019, Utilization of Chuna Manual Therapy has been increased overall. In particular, Chuna Manual Therapy is mostly implemented in the elderly, Korean medicine clinics, and local areas, thus policy managers will need to consider this.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.20-46
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• 2007

Given the pressures to promote the efficient utilization of medical resources, hospitals have developed cost accounting systems in several countries. This study discusses the recent development and problems of hospital cost accounting practices in three countries: UK, US, and Japan. first, we discuss a cost accounting structure and detailed pictures of costing practices. Second, problems of current systems arc reviewed and then possible remedies are discussed. Third, we provide implications for implementing the systems(especially ABC). finally, we assert that infrastructure(hospital information systems, database, etc.) must be established and the target level of costing has to be considered before organization-wide application.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.176-180
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• 2019

The growing use of laparoscopy in elective surgery has led to its increase utilization in emergency surgery. However, the employment of laparoscopy in abdominal trauma is still unusual. Here in we report a case of a patient with blunt abdominal trauma that resulted in a combination of exceptional traumatic lesions, diaphragmatic and bladder lacerations. Both injuries were diagnosed and successfully resolved by laparoscopy. The report of this type of lesions and resolution is extremely rare, being this the second case described in the international literature. This article intends to show that laparoscopy may not only be used as a diagnostic tool, but also as a therapeutic instrument in selected cases of blunt abdominal trauma.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.89-107
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• 2004

This study was conducted to analyze community residents' behavior of Oriental medicine utilization and its related factors in order to provide basic data for formulation of policies on Oriental medicine. The subjects of this study was 500 residents who lived in big or medium sized cities and towns or villages Data were collected from March, 2002 to June, 2002. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. 1) According to socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, female was 50.3%; 'over 50 years old' 29.9%, 'over college graduate' 39.7%, 'housewife' 23.0%, 'having spouse' 62.1%, 'Buddhist' 50.8%, 'living in big cities' 59.0%, 'middle economic class' 88.1%. 2) The highest proportion of frequency of Oriental medicine utilization was over 10 times(32.5%). The respondents visited Oriental medicine institutions for taking invigorant(51.1%), treatment of diseases in muscle or bone system(30.8%), treatment of diseases in digestive system(6.3%), etc. 3) According to the reasons of utilizing Oriental medicine, the proportion of good effect was highest(36.3%). 66.8% of the respondents replied that Oriental medical fee was expensive, while 0.8% of them replied that it was not expensive. 33.3% of them thought it was proper. 4) 35.5% of the respondents replied that treatment by Oriental medicine could cause side effect and 40.3% of them replied that the side effect could be caused by taking herb medicine. 5) 62.8% of the respondents replied that they would continuously receive opinions on Oriental medicine. The score of knowledge level of treatment by Oriental medicine $6.25{\pm}2.82$ points on the basis of 14 points. 6) The variables significantly influencing utilization of Oriental medicine includes taking diseases, living in big cities, male, upper (economic class, having religion, and effect of Oriental medicine. 7) The factors affecting effect of herb medicine were effect of treatment by Oriental medicine, marital status, knowledge level of Oriental medicine, having diseases, and frequency of receiving the treatment.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.277-293
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• 1997

This study was conducted to provide basic materials required to enforce and develop welfare policies, as well as the health system, for the aged, by surveying the status of health care utilized by the daily increasing old population and the importance of receiving physical therapy. Data that need in this research was gathered from over ages of 65, during the period from Jan 4, 1996 to Jan 31, using the inquiries previously made by geriatric researchers and through literatures investigator by this writer. The data were analyzed by $X^2$, Z-test, Likert scale. The findings were as follows : 1) General characteristics of subjects. People in the age group between 65 and 69 were 55.6% and the highest number, while male were 37% and female 63%. Analysis of income group disclosed 60.6% whose monthly income, including the pocket money given by children, was less than 200,000 won. 91.1% of the elderly people surveyed owned houses; only 36.4% live with spouses; while 15.6% live alone. 2) Characteristics with respect to utilization of health care institution. 56% of the total medical institutions used by the elderly people were clinics and the rates of chronic disease and musculoskeletal disease were 73.2%. 3) Characteristics with respect to approach of health care institution. 45.1% of the respondent stated it took 20 minutes to arrive at hospital, and bus accounted for 48.6% of all transportation means used to go to hospital. 4) Degree of cognition with respect to the rights of geriatric patients. (1) There is no financial support from the government for geriatric patients(71.4%). (2) Government financial support is needed for geriatric patients(95.3%). (3) Have never been regionally surveyed or called upon for interviews with respect to treatment desire and problems relating to geriatric patients(87.2%). (4) Health and medical policies for geriatric patients must be established rapidly(98.4). (5) Expansion and construction of specialized medical facilities for geriatric patients such as elderly hospital and medical center are needed(90.2%). (6) Government's welfare policies for the elderly people is insufficient(82.0%) 5) Degree of cognition on importance of physical therapy with respect to geriatric patient. (1) Physical therapy is considered most effective in treating geriatric patients(82.9%). (2) Physical therapists specializing in only elderly people must be need of separately(76.2%). (3) It is desirable for medical specialists to visit geriatric patients at home to provide physical therapy(82.9%). (4) Hospitals specializing in physical therapy for geriatric patient are required(85.6%). Based on the result for this research, the following suggestions are presented to facilitate the utilization of health care institution for the welfare of geriatric patients. Medical facilities such as elderly hospital and geriatric patient's medical center specializing in elderly people must be constructed as early as possible; and home-visiting physical therapist system must be important to treat chronic geriatric patients; our government must establish policies to provide the old ages with means for the health care and curing chronic diseases, and carry out the plans of reasonable distribution and effective untilization of medical resources.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.60-68
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• 2023

Purpose: For the dignity of patients nearing the end of their lives, it is essential to provide end-of-life (EoL) care in a separate, dedicated space. This study investigated the utilization of specialized rooms for dying patients within a hospice unit. Methods: This retrospective study examined patients who died in a single hospice unit between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Utilizing medical records, we analyzed the circumstances surrounding death, the employment of specialized rooms for terminally ill patients, and the characteristics of those who received EoL care in a shared room. Results: During the 1,825-day survey period, deaths occurred on 632 days, and 799 patients died. Of these patients, 496 (62.1%) received EoL care in a dedicated room. The average duration of using this dedicated space was 1.08 days. Meanwhile, 188 patients (23.5%) died in a shared room. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a longer stay in the hospice unit was associated with a lower risk of receiving EoL care in a shared room (odds ratio [OR]=0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97~0.99; P=0.002). Furthermore, a higher number of deaths on the day a patient died was associated with a greater risk of receiving EoL care in a shared room (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.33~2.08; P<0.001). Conclusion: To ensure that more patients receive EoL care for an adequate duration in a private setting, additional research is necessary to increase the number of dedicated rooms and incorporate them into the hospice unit at an early stage.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.27-80
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• 1993

It is widely known that patients' utilization pattern for medical care facilities and the patientflow are influenced by multi-factors, such as demographic characteristics, structural characteristics of society, socio-psychological characteristics(value, attitude, norms, culture, health behavior, etc.), economic characteristics(income, medical price, relative price, physician induced demand, etc.), geographical accessibility, systematic characteristics(health care delivery system, payment methods for physician fees, form of health care security, etc.), and characteristics of medical facilities(reliability, quality of medical care, convenience, kindness, tec.). This study was conducted to research the mechanism of patient-flow according to changes of health care system(implementation of national health insurance, health care referral system and regionalization of health care utilization, etc.) and characteristics of medical facilities(ownership of hospital, characteristics of medical services, non-medical characteristics, etc.). In this study, the fact could be ascertained that the patient-flow had been influenced by changes of health care system and characteristics of medical facilities.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.116-124
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• 1997

Background : As parking problem caused by increasing owner-driver and patients concentrating to a general hospital is becoming one of the dissatisfactions in medical care. It is time that a general hospital should solve the parking problem in a desirable way. The purpose of this survey is to let the clients understand the basic motivation of the pay parking and develop the better parking system. Methods : Clients of a tertiary care hospital in Chon-ju were surveyed by means of a questionnaire. All in all, 193 subjects answered the questionnaire. Results : In relation to previous experiences, 39.6% of the subjects experienced inconvenience with confused parking lot and the shortage of parking space. Under the current parking system, the subjects who felt the available parking space was enough were more than those who didn't 62.7% of the subjects answered that they could find the parking lot easily. 33.2% of the subjects mentioned that it was not easy to drive in the parking area ; The reasons were pointed out the shortage of space, disordered parking, and insufficient guide. 12.8% of the subjects satisfied with the current administering system of parking lot. The outpatients were more affirmative than the admitted patients about the charging system. As for the parking fee, 64% of the subjects answered that it is expensive, and 89.5% of the subjects thought imposing of parking fee is irrational. Conclusion : To say as a whole, the basic purpose of the charging system are more or less accepted. However, the management details like parking facilities and payment method are dissatisfactory, so it is necessary to improve the management system. It is also noted that the inpatients showed more negative attitude than the outpatients with the charging system. To secure a more convenient parking, the parking system should be considered in relation to the information service, kind guidance, improve facilities, personnel cooperation, fix outpatient scheduling system, etc.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.376-387
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to systematically review the contents and effects of nurse-led transitional care programs for discharged patients from hospital to home. Methods: Randomized controlled trials published between 2005 and 2015 were searched in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane(Central Register of Controlled Trials) and CINAHL. Data were analyzed using Cochrane Review Manager(Revman) software 5.3. Results: Nine studies were selected and analyzed. Patient assessment, education and discharge planning were included in pre-discharge phase. Referring, communication and care planning were performed by nurses in transition phase. Home and phone visits, monitoring and multidisciplinary advices were included in post-discharge phase. Various outcome measures such as hospital utilization(30 days readmission and emergency department visit), quality of life, and cost were used to identify effectiveness of nurse-led transitional care programs. 30 days readmission(OR=.73, 95% CI 0.54, 0.98; p=.03) and emergency department visit(OR=.67, 95% CI 0.50, 0.88; p=.005) were statistically significant in meta-analysis. However, participant blinding was not done in seven studies which put at the risk of performance bias. Conclusion: The results indicated that nurse-led transitional care program is effective in reducing unnecessary hospital utilization. Nevertheless, small sample size and risk at performance bias are the limitation of this study. Thus, we suggest that well-designed randomized controlled trials need to be conducted.