• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2021

Background: Healthcare settings have been recognized among the most hazardous places to work. Based on the five categories of occupational hazards that were identified by the ILO and WHO, this study aimed to analyze policy framework relevant to occupational health protection of health workers (HWs) in public health service in China, then discussed how to share the experience of the National Health Service (NHS) England for improvement. Methods: Based on policy learning theories, policy analysis and qualitative interview were used in this study. Results: In the Chinese public health service, at least five laws related to the regulation of occupational health protection for HWs; however, enforcement of relevant laws was separated and multi-centered; the national monitoring system, which targeted to occupational hazards and health outcome for HWs in China, had yet to be developed; the top three priorities were workplace violence, bloodborne pathogens, and musculoskeletal disorders; national strategies included Security Hospital, and Healthy China 2030. In NHS England, three laws were fundamental; several monitoring systems had been set up, including NHS Staff Survey, Commissioning for Quality and Innovation incentive scheme; mental health, musculoskeletal problem, and nutrition disorder and overweight were raised great concern; Health and Safety, and NHS Healthy Workforce Program were critical nationwide strategies. Conclusion: There were several similarities as well as differences between the Chinese public health system and NHS England, which laid foundation of learning by China. Recommendations of improving occupational health policies in China were provided, based on the lessons learned from the NHS England.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10b
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• pp.251-252
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• 1997

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.76-87
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• 1998

This study analyzed the effect of foreign currency exchange rate on the increasing rate of medical care cost by items of fee schedule of Korean Medical Insurance. This study uses the data of cost analysis including cost of imported goods and the data of for a university hospital National Federation's Medical Insurance for a trend of claim. The method of cost analysis is as same as that used in the study of the development of Korean RBRVS(Resource Based Relative Valus Scale). The main findings of this study are as follows; 1. The proportion of imported goods in cost related to Medical Insurance fee schedule is 7.93%, and in case of substitution of available domestic goods 6.96%. 2. If foreign currency exchange rate changes from 800wen per $1 to 1,300won, the affecting rate of Medical Insurance fee schedules is 5.00%. If the imported goods will be substituted with available domestic goods, the rate 4.35%. Our results can be used a data for updating Medical Insurance fee schedule. But this result is limited to be generalized, because this study used the cost analysis for a university hospital.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-23
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• 1999

The purpose of this paper is to survey the current status of service utilization in oriental medicine, to identify the determinants of consumers' decision in the service utilization, and then suggest policy implications for promoting the consumers' utilization. A multiple regression model was adopted to analyze the factors that influence consumer's decision in purchasing the oriental medical services. Data used in this research relied on National Survey Data conducted by Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, and sampling survey. The results could be summarized as follows.: 1. the number of visits to oriental medical institutions has shown an overall increase during the last decade since the inception of health insurance for oriental medical services. It still, however, revealed a relatively iow figure to western medical services. 2. the main factors, after controlling demographic variables, that determine consumers' selection between oriental medical services and western medical services are considered to be price, belief in effectiveness of services, waiting time for service. Implications for policy recommendation include 1. to reduce a barrier to service utilization by discounting dramatically the price of herb medicine, which is believed to be crucial in expanding market share, 2. to encourage consumer's belief in clinical effectiveness through a specialization in competitive services compared with wertern medicine, 3. to keep the affirmative image among consumers alive through an active participation of oriental medical doctors in community activities, 4 to change the health care system in favor of oriental medicine in the long run.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the referral and return of patients to clinics in the endocrinology and cardiology departments at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital to evaluate the "referral and return of patients to clinics" program and reduce the rate of returning patients. Methods: From May 2018 to December 2020, we identified the number of visits to referral hospitals and hospital usage status at Ilsan Hospital after returning to clinics. We also identified the patients who returned to Ilsan Hospital within 6 months, defined as "failure to transport," among those recommended to be transported to clinics of the Medical Cooperation Center. Additionally, we evaluated the characteristics of the "failure to transport" patients. Results: Among the returning patients, the rate of visiting Ilsan Hospital within 6 months was higher in cardiology than in endocrinology (25.1% vs. 16.7%). Older age, more severe disease, and more number of visits to the department were associated with a high rate of failure to transport. The rate of failure to return was low in cases diagnosed with hyperlipidemia/lipoprotein metabolism disorder. With respect to diabetes, the rate of failure to transport differed according to each type of diagnosis of diabetes. Conclusion: The success rate of the "referral and return of patient to clinics" program differed based on each patient's characteristics, department of visit, and diagnosis. Individualizing according to the visit department and diagnosis is required to ensure successful transfers, and infrastructure expansion and institutional arrangements must be facilitated.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.351-352
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• 1998

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.421-447
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• 2014

Traditional medicine has been integrated into the national health system in many countries such as Korea, China, Taiwan, etc. Korea and China are most representative among them. The purpose of this study is to compare the policies on traditional medicine in Korea and China focusing on where it came from and where it is headed. In this regard, the study suggested the first analysis tool in the world for analyzing the policy of traditional medicine. The results of the study are as follows: First of all, the development process of Korean Medicine (KM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows the same pattern, that is, both are influenced by its own national policies. Secondly, the difference between the two countries is due to the gap in the development status or the different aspects in national heath system. TCM is more vitalized in health system and has larger category, and stays ahead in globalization compared to KM. TCM covers Chinese medicine, integrative medicine and ethno-medicine. Korea emphasizes the role of KM in the declining birthrate and aging society, and promotes the overseas patient invitation strategy. China, on the other hand, establishes the medical system for emergency medical treatment and preventive treatment of major diseases and promotes overseas expansion of TCM service. In addition, Korea stressed the safety and distribution of herbal medicine, and China emphasizes production technologies. Korea has a strong medical device industry along with the government's fostering policy; however, in China, medical devices are in the R&D stage yet. Even though both countries promotes the drug development from natural products, Korea focuses on developing herbal cosmetics in application industry, but China shows weakness in policies on application industry. China shores up the foundation for culture and theory of traditional medicine, while Korea doesn't have related policy. Korea places emphasis on promoting collaboration with international organizations and medical volunteer programs, whereas China is more interested in mutual cooperation and real trade with other countries.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.19-44
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in patterns of Daegu- and Gyeongbuk-based patients' use of medical care facilities located in Seoul. The 'Patient Survey' data issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for 2002, 2005, and 2008 were used. Among all discharged patients residing in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, 133,456 who used medical facilities in Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and Seoul were selected. Among patients residing in Daegu, 2.2% used medical facilities in Seoul in 2002, 3.7% in 2005, and 3.5% in 2008. The corresponding rates among patients living in Gyeongbuk were 5.6%(2002), 7.1%(2005), and 7.3%(2008). Regarding the ICD-10 disease groups, the use of medical facilities in Seoul by patients residing in either Daegu or Gyeongbuk increased in 2005 right after the introduction of the KTX high-speed train service, covering various disease groups, but decreased again in 2008. 'Neoplasm' cases, however, showed a progressive rising trend during the years studied. Multivariate data analysis for the three years showed that sex, age, payment type, hospital type, residence, year, and disease groups were all significantly associated with the utilization of medical facilities in Seoul. The major results are : First, use of medical facilities in Seoul by Gyeongbuk patients was 2.4-fold higher than that by Daegu patients, but with respect to 2005 and 2008 vs. 2002, use of medical facilities in Seoul by Daegu resident patients' showed a larger increase than that by Gyeongbuk's patients. Second, for patients residing in the two regions, use of medical facilities in Seoul was highest for 'congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities', followed by 'neoplasms'. Third, for patients residing in the two regions, general hospitals comprise the primary factor in the use of medical facilities in Seoul. The study shows that local medical facilities should individually exert more efforts to improve the quality of their medical services. Relevant authorities should likewise help these facilities develop their own unique services and respective specialization.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.125-136
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• 2022

The costliness index (CI) is an index that is used in various ways to improve the quality of medical care and the management of appropriate treatment in medical institutions. However, the current calculation method for CI has a limitation in reflecting the actual medical cost of the patient unit because the outpatient and inpatient costs are evaluated separately. It is desirable to calculate the CI by integrating the medical cost into the episode unit. We developed an episode-based CI method using the episode classification system of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the National Inpatient Sample data in Korea, which can integrate the admission and ambulatory care cost to episode unit. Additionally, we compared our new method with the previous method. In some episodes, the correlation between previous and episode-based CI was low, and the proportion of outpatient treatment costs in total cost and readmission rates are high. As a result of regression analysis, it is possible that the level of total medical costs of the patient unit in low volume medical institute and rural area has been underestimated. High proportion of outpatient treatment cost in total medical cost means that some medical institutions may have provided medical services in the ambulatory care that are ancillary to inpatient treatment. In addition, a high readmission rate indicates insufficient treatment service for inpatients, which means that previous CI may not accurately reflect actual patient-based treatment costs. Therefore, an integrated patient-unit classification system which can be used as a more effective CI indicator is needed.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.73-91
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• 2011

This paper demonstrates empirically that individuals who monitor indicators of their current cardiovascular health status by undergoing medical examinations are more likely to invest in their own health than those who do not observe such monitoring protocols. Using data from the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of Korea in a structural econometric model, this paper attempts to control the endogeneity problem inherent to the individual decision as to whether to undergo medical examinations, and provides estimation results showing that increased individual health awareness via medical examinations exerts a statistically significant positive effect on health investments. From the policy perspective, the estimation results of this paper may provide a rationale supporting the health policy of free provision of health examination services to the insured via National Health Insurance.