• Health Policy and Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.46-64
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• 2005

This study was conducted to verify the current criteria and classification system used to determine specialized general hospitals status. In this study, we proposed a new classification system which Is simpler and more convenient than the current one. In the new classification system clinical procedure was chosen as the unit of analysis in order to reflect all the resource consumption and the complexities and degree of medical technologies in determining specialized general hospitals. We developed a statistical model and applied this model to 117 general hospitals which claim their national insurance through electronic data interchange(EDI). Analysis based on 984 clinical procedures and medical facilities' characteristic variable discriminated specialized general hospital in present without misclassification. It means that we can determine specialized general hospital's permission In new way without using the current complicated criteria. This study discriminated specialized general hospital by the new proposed model based on clinical procedures provided by each hospital. For clustering the same types of medical facilities using 984 clinical procedures, we executed multidimensional scale analysis and divided 117 hospitals into 4 groups by two axises : a variety of procedure and the Proportion of high technology Procedure. Therefore, we divided 117 hospitals into 4 groups and one of them was considered as specialized general hospital. In discriminating analysis, we abstracted proportion of 16 clinical procedures which effect on discriminating the specialized general hospital in statistical system also we identify discriminating function which include these variables. As a result, we identify 2 discriminating functions, one is for current discriminating system and the other two is for new discriminating system of specialized general hospital.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2010

Objectives : While there are many studies about treatments of facial palsy, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about comparison between western medicine and oriental medicine. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with facial palsy through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRAS). Methods : According to the HIRAS database over 5 years' period from 2004 to 2008, the medical records of patients with facial palsy as a main diagnosis were extracted. Inclusion criteria of facial palsy are Bell's palsy(G510), Geniculate ganglionitis(G511), Melkersson's syndrome(G512), Other disorders of facial nerve(G518), Disorder of facial nerve, unspecified(G519) in western medicine. And Paralytic face(G016), Deviated eye and mouth(J01), The other facial palsy(J013) were included in oriental medicine. We compared the claim number of western medical care with that of oriental medicine treatment by year and month. Results : The total claim number of facial palsy was increasing on both western medicine and oriental medicine from 2004 to 2008. In western medicine, the claim number of Bell's palsy(G510) is the most. In oriental medicine the inpatients claim number of Deviated eye and mouth(J01) is the most, while outpatients claim number of the other facial palsy(J013) is the most. Conclusions : Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for facial palsy in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2009

Purpose: This study compared the frequency of postoperative infections in patients for a closed mandibular fracture with that without the postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients and Methods: 48 patients without any specific medical history were divided into two groups depending on whether or not antibiotics had been applied after the surgery. The 24 patients in group 1 received only a second-generation cephalosporin ($Cefotetan^{(R)}$) intravenously from admission to immediate after the surgery. Likewise, 24 patients in group 2 received 1.0g of $Cefotetan^{(R)}$ twice daily longer than the third day after surgery. The mean (SD) duration of antibiotics administration after surgery was 6.9 (${\pm}3.56$). The patients were evaluated after surgery for any postoperative infections according to the criteria: purulent drainage from a wound, spontaneous wound dehiscence accompanied by swelling, pain, and fever around the wound. Results: Postoperative infections were encountered in 2 out of 24 patients in group 1, who received antibiotic medication until shortly after surgery, and in 3 out of the 24 patients in group 2, in whom the medication was continued even after the surgery. There was no sig nificant difference in the incidence of postoperative infections between the two groups. Conclusion: From this study, postoperative use of antibiotics seems to be unnecessary with view of the little significance of the factors that could affect the wound infection.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.61-72
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• 2010

Judgment of cerebral and cardiovascular diseases arising out of duty follows the legal judgment method for the purpose of investigation of medical causes based on the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, with the characteristics of the occurrence as personal factors etc. act as risk factors while work-related ones as triggers, in the case of disease due to occupational cases, as whether it arose out of duty must be judged including even the individual's personal risk factors, there are limitations securing fairness even with existing laws, regulations and guidelines. This study was carried out to suggest basic data for the preparation of standardized guidances for diseases arising out of duty by reviewing the standards for the acknowledgment of cerebral and cardiovascular diseases due to occupational cases, and it has a significance in that it suggests target diseases that may be judged as cerebral and cardiovascular diseases, legal criteria for the acknowledgment and standards for the judgment of cerebral and cardiovascular diseases arising out of duty.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the specialty hospital system by comparing the medical use of inpatients who had artificial joint replacement surgery in specialty hospitals and non-specialty hospitals. Methods: This study utilized 2021-2022 healthcare benefit claims data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The dependent variable is inpatient medical use which is measured in terms of charges per case and length of stay. The independent variable was whether the hospital was designated as a specialty hospital, and the control variables were patient-level variables (age, gender, insurer type, surgery type, and Charlson comorbidity index) and medical institution-level variables (establishment type, classification, location, number of orthopedic surgeons, and number of nurses). Results: The results of the multiple regression analysis between charges per case and whether a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital showed a statistically significant negative relationship between charges per case and whether a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital. This suggests a significant low in charges per case when a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital compared to a non-specialty hospital, indicating that there is a difference in medical use outcomes between specialty hospitals and non-specialty hospitals inpatients. Conclusion: The practical implications of this study are as follows. First, the criteria for designating specialty hospitals should be alleviated. In our study, the results show that specialty hospitals have significantly lower per-case costs than non-specialty hospitals. Despite the cost-effectiveness of specialty hospitals, the high barriers to be designated for specialty hospitals have gathered the specialty hospitals in metropolitan and major cities. To address the regional imbalance of specialty hospitals, it is believed that ease the criteria for designating specialty hospitals in non-metropolitan areas, such as introducing "semi-specialty hospitals (tentative name)," will lead to a reduction in health disparities between regions and reduce medical costs. Second, it is necessary to determine the appropriateness of the size of hospitals' medical staff. The study found that the number of orthopedic surgeons and nurses varied in charges per case. Therefore, it is believed that appropriately allocating hospital medical staff can maximize the cost-effectiveness of medical services and ultimately reduce medical costs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1600-1605
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• 2000

Objective : World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, in June 8, 1999, requested that working conditions should be reformed ethically right and economically solid for 2.7 billion world labour force. The purpose of this study is to request compensable surgical therapeutic options and to suggest the renewal in cognizance criteria for worker's compensation, especially in spondylolisthesis. Methods : Regarding spondylolisthesis, we obtained data from Korea Labor Welfare Corporation(KLWC). Spinal disease occurrence incidences and medical fees of National Federation of Medical Insurance(NFMI) were analysed. The compensated 122 spinal instrumented cases included 117 male and 5 female patients, aged from 23 to 72 years old(mean : $45{\pm}9.85$). We compared Korean and Foreign Workers Compensation Law. Results : Numbers of herniated nucleus pulpus(78 cases), spinal fractures(34 cases) and dislocations(4 cases) were claimed after spinal interbody fusion operation and were compensated. These compensated degenerative diseases, work related illness, occurred in the course of work. A case of 52-year old spondylolisthesis patient with Disability Grade 8 was compensated by KLWC, according to its occurrence at work by accident. With exception of trauma at work by accident, current cognizance criteria were too narrow to be compensable, especially in surgical therapeutic option, for worker's spondylolisthesis. Conclusion : Considering both worker's compensation law and clinical pathologic progress, we believe that spondylolisthesis should be regarded as a compensable occupation related disease if and when aggravates rapidly in the course of work. We suggest a new cognizance standard to KLWC for labour welfare and proper worker's compensation.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.24-39
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was to review the previous studies on the 'Willingness to Pay (WTP)' for healthcare services and suggest future implications for nursing research. Methods: Using the scoping review method, we used RISS, KISS, KMbase, Koreamed, PubMed, EMbase, CINAHL as searching engines. According to the selection and exclusion criteria, 40 appropriate studies were selected and analyzed. Results: 24 studies were categorized into medical service field among medical, public health, and nursing service fields. A total of 16 studies were related to healthcare system (policies), 13 studies were to the healthcare intervention, and 11 studies were categorized into the health management. Most of the methods for eliciting WTP (70%) were about a contingent valuation method (CVM), and the use of double bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) tended to increase. In the nursing field, five WTP studies were identified: two studies published in the early years of 2000, which were conducted on hospital-based home health visit services. Recent studies were mostly about counseling and education by advanced practice nurses (APNs). Conclusion: WTP studies on healthcare services were largely published from the medical fields and health policy areas with the CVM method. In the field of nursing, studies have been conducted on the subject of limited service areas. More active exploration of research topics is required, particularly under the current policy setting, where discussion of the public health insurance fee for nursing practice is essential.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.130-139
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• 2000

This study is intended to set the criteria for the classification of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and classify hospital pharmacy formulations according to the criteria. 717 hospital pharmacy formulations were collected ken the Center for review and evaluation of health insurance, and national provincial offices. Hospital pharmacy formulations were evaluated based on the 'Guidelines on the Hospital Pharmacy Formulations (Notification No. 2000-46)'by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Drug classification advisory committee was composed of twelve medical and pharmaceutical specialists, and suggested opinions on the drug classification. Among 717 formulations, 651 drugs $(90.8\%)$ satisfied the basic conditions for the hospital pharmacy formulations. 312 formulations $(43.5\%)$ were classified as drugs for the disinfection and tests. For the rest of them, 231 formulations were classified as prescription drugs whereas 108 drugs were as non-prescription drugs. 56 non-prescription drugs were included as hospital formulations, because there were no therapeutic alternatives. Iu sum 599 drugs $(83.5\%)$ were suggested as hospital pharmacy formulations. The study also recommends pharmaceutical companies to produce drugs of limited commercial value, and doctors to change their unique prescribing behavior in order to prevent the abuse of hospital pharmacy formulations.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.336-346
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• 2017

Background: Due to the asymmetry of information and knowledge and the power of bureaucrats and medical professionals, it is not easy for citizens to participate in health care policy making. This study analyzes the case of the insured organization participating in the Health Insurance Policy Committee (HIPC) and provides a basis for discussing methods and conditions for better public participation. Methods: Qualitative analysis was conducted using the in-depth interviews with the participants and document data such as materials for HIPC meetings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively sampled six participants from organizations representing the insured in HIPC. The meanings related to the factors affecting participation were found and categorized into major categories. Results: The main factors affecting participating in the decision making process were trust and cooperation among the participants, structure and procedure of governance, representation and expertise of participants, and contents of issues. Due to limited cooperation, participants lacked influence in important decisions. There was an imbalance in power due to unreasonable procedures and criteria for governance. As the materials for meetings were provided inappropriate manner, it was difficult for participants to understand the contents and comments on the meeting. Due to weak accountability structure, opinions from external stakeholders have not been well received. The participation was made depending on the expertise of individual members. The degree of influence was different depending on the contents of the issues. Conclusion: In order to meet the values of democracy and realize the participation that the insured can demonstrate influence, it is necessary to have a fair and reasonable procedure and a sufficient learning environment. More deliberative structure which reflects citizen's public perspective is required, rather than current negotiating structure of HIPC.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.6
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• pp.5-18
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• 1999

This study was attempt to encourage for developing on rehabilitation delivery system and programs as a substitute service instead of hospitalization for accident patients at work, such as hospital based home health care nursing service. It needs vary substitutes service of hospitalization to curtail the length of stay for inpatients who were hospitalized with workers compensation insurance. It focused on developing an estimation of early discharge day of accident inpatients based on a detail statement of treatment for 115 inpatients who were hospitalized at General Hospital in 1997. This study has four specific purpose as follows. First, to find out the status of health service utilization. Second, to estimate the early discharge days and income increasing effect based on the early discharge for those patients. Third, to identify the factors to affect total medical expenditure and the length of stay for those inpatients. Forth, to figure out the need of utilizing home health care nursing service for accident patients. In order to analyze of the length of stay and medical expenditure for inpatients who were hospitalized due to the accident, the authors conducted with micro-analysis and macroanalysis from medical records and medical expenditure records. Micro-analysis was done by nominal group discussion of 4 expertise with the critical criteria. such as a decrease in the amount of treatment after surgery, treatments, tests, drugs and changes in the tests consistency, drug methods, vital signs, start of ROM exercise, doctor's order, patient's outside visiting ability, stable conditions. In addition to identify affected variables for medical expenditure. the length of stay and income effect due to early discharge day, the data was analyzed with multiple regression analysis and linear regression analysis model by SPSS-PC for windows and Excell program. Results of this study as follows. First, the mean length of stay was 37.1 days, whereas the mean length of stay due to early discharge was 28.2 days at the hospital. The estimation of early discharge days were shown that depends on the length of stay. The longer length of stay, the longer length of early discharge days, such as under 7 days length of stay patients was to estimated the mean length of stay was 4.9 days and early discharge days was 4.6. whereas the mean length of stay was 122.6 days and early discharge days was 92.0 respectively. The mean medical expenditure per day were found to be 133.409 Won. whereas the mean medical expenditure per day was shown negative linear trends according to the length of stay at the hospital. The estimation results of the income effect due to 11 early discharge days per bed was around 2,150,000 won. However, it means not the real benefits from early discharge, but the income increasing amount without considering medical prime cost in general hospital. Therefore, it needs further analysis on the cost containments and benefits under the considering as well turn over rates per bed as the medical prime costs. The length of stay was most significant and the sign was positive to the total medical expenditure, as expected. Surgery and patient's residential area also an important variable in explaining medical expenditure. The level of complications was most significant variable in explaining the length of stay. The level of the needs on horne health care nursing service which can be used for early discharge accident patients were shown very high. The needs distribution varied from 65.5% of patients and 88.9% of caregivers, to 96.4% of doctors, and 99.1% of nurses. In addition horne health nurse responded that they can be managed the accident inpatients from early discharge. From these research findings. the following suggestions has been drawn it needs to develop strategies on rehabilitation delivery system in order to focused on consumer's side which is planned for 21 century health policy in Korea. Vary intermediate facilities and horne health care would have been developed in the community based for comprehensive rehabilitation services as a substitutes of hospitalization for shortening the length of stay of hospitalizations. In hospital based horne health care nursing service, it's available immediately to utilize for the patients who wanted rehabilitation services as a substitutes of hospitalization under the cooperations with workers compensation insurance company.