• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.715-734
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• 2023

Purpose: Authors suggest a new alternative of preparedness capabilities for health care institutes to react to the new types of communicable diseases and the pandemic situations through the quality improvement and advancement of Negative Pressure Isolation Stretcher (NPIS). Methods: We employed FOCUS-PDCA, a representative quality improvement model. First, we identified and materialized necessary components of existing NPIS to be improved. Second, we fabricated an advanced NPIS prototype. Third, we carried out a performance test by the accreditation institute and an empirical evaluation at the communicable diseases trauma center, to locate the improvement pain points of the prototype. Finally, we draw a conclusion on quality improvement points to be considered during the production stage. Results: The suggested, NPIS outperforms the existing one in terms of communicable disease controls, patient treatments and the safety during the patient transfer, and the ease of use. Additionally, the suggested NPIS turns out to be a proper alternative to satisfy the requirements of long range transfer of patients with communicable disease. Conclusion: Authors developed a quality improved, NPIS prototype. There are several points that still remain to be improved. Additionally, we expect that the concurrent use of the suggested NPIS with the existing one will fortify the preparedness capabilities on reacting to the communicable diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.891-899
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• 2023

Purpose To survey perceptions of certified physicians on the protocol of chest CT in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) using a negative pressure isolation stretcher (NPIS). Materials and Methods This study collected questionnaire responses from a total of 27 certified physicians who had previously performed chest CT with NPIS in COVID-19 isolation hospitals. Results The nine surveyed hospitals performed an average of 116 chest CT examinations with NPIS each year. Of these, an average of 24 cases (21%) were contrast chest CT. Of the 9 pulmonologists we surveyed, 5 (56%) agreed that patients who showed abnormalities in serum D-dimer required contrast chest CT. All 9 surveyed radiologists agreed that the image quality of the chest CT with NPIS was sufficient for CT image interpretation regarding pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Furthermore, in our 9 surveyed infectionologists, 5 (56%) agreed that a risk of secondary infection in the CT room after temporary opening of NPIS could be prevented through a process of disinfection. Conclusion Experienced physicians considered that the effects of NIPS on chest CT image quality was minimal in patients with COVID-19, and the risk of CT room contamination was easily controlled.