• Health Policy and Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.115-147
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• 1992

The purposes of this paper are twofold : to identify what pathway insured patients are seeking medical care services through, and then, to provide the basis for the prediction and evaluation of the effects of a new policy intervention. To change the patient flow across different types of medical care facilities, this intervention has been enforced since July 1, 1989. It is mainly aimed at discouraging the use of the tertiary hospitals by imposing some restrictions on the patient's choice. The data for analysis were obtained from the claims to the insurance for govermment and school employees. The sample was drawn from the claims for about 1% of the enrollees using medical care facilities during 2 years since January 1, 1985. The sample included 91, 483 for 1985 and 81,914 for 1986, among them the number of patients to initiate the use of medical care service were 66,757 and 59,498 respectively. This paper analysed what types of and how many medical care facilities the patient with same disease had used.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.312-314
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• 2024

A 3-year-old boy with Glenn physiology exhibited refractory heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. To improve the patient's oxygen saturation, he underwent ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation with concomitant Fontan completion. The extracardiac conduit Fontan operation was performed with a 4-mm fenestration. For VAD implantation, Berlin Heart cannulas were positioned at the left ventricular apex and the neo-aorta. Following weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, a temporary continuous-flow VAD, equipped with an oxygenator, was utilized for support. After a stabilization period of 1 week, the continuous-flow VAD was replaced with a durable pulsatile-flow device. Following 3 months of support, the patient underwent transplantation without complications. The completion of the Fontan procedure at the time of VAD implantation, along with the use of a temporary continuous-flow device with an oxygenator, may aid in stabilizing postoperative hemodynamics. This approach could contribute to a safe transition to a durable pulsatile VAD in patients with Glenn physiology.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.75-93
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was designed to establish medical trust realization system by finding factors influential to it using questionnaire. Methods : 277 subjects were participated in this study. After a treatment, we conducted a survey from April 1st to October 31th about medical service perception index, medical trust index, patient satisfaction index, patient reliability index, patient flow degree index, recall intension index, and hospital image index. To evaluate the influence of medical service perception with other 6 indexes, we statistically made regression analysis of the results through the survey. Results : By the results of the analysis, evaluation of hospital image influenced all 6 indexes. The systemicity of treatment process had an effect on 5 indexes except for the flow degree of patients. The humanity of medical team brought out the estimation of 4 indexes except for the patient flow degree and hospital image. The empathic ability of doctor and appropriacy of medical costs hold the next rank influencing 3 indexes. It reached the conclusion that the systemicity of medical team tend to determine the medical trust and patient reliability. The expertise, professional skill of doctor, the fault, commercial application, fame of medical team, the speed of treatment process, the newest and clean medical facility affected each one index. Conclusions : Korean medicine should find a way to consider the mind of patients for improving the medical quality through trust realization system, keeping up with times. As a result of this research, we can find out important causes which influence the trustful medical system. From now on, we should apply this result to actual treatment of psychology customized system. Also, more simple and clear questionnaire was organized through this research, it can be used to forward research to apprehend patient mentality more conveniently.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.244-261
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• 2000

Background : In order to cope with changes in the management environment at hospitals, increased interests are drawn in patient foodservice system on Continuous Quality Improvement Activity as the method of approaching a quality food service and effective management. Thus, as a part of this activity, this study was conducted to evaluate job flow improvement that was already performed and the results of that process at the dietetic department of a university hospital, focusing on improving management. Method : On February 15 of 1998. the dietetic department formed a job flow-improvement to decide on the priority of job flow improvement, and prepared specific action strategies and schedule of the priority: after a 5 month process period, job improvement achieved on June 15. 1998. Also, economic achievement of the task was evaluated through labor productivity analysis and cost-benefit analysis. Results : The patient food service system which was managed decentralized at the present hospital was centralized, some steps of the food service process were integrated, and quality of patient food was improved. Also, as a solution of the problems expected when conducting job flow improvement was made on food service equipments and utensils. The result of evaluating the job flow improvement that labor productivity improved by 18.2% compared to before the improvement and the result of the analysis of cost-benefit showed that Benefit-Cost (B/C) ratio was 2.22. showing financial merit on the investment. Conclusions : Continuous Quality Improvement Activity needs to be initiated and conducted in the future in various areas of hospital foodservice system in order to actively adopt to ever changing hospital management environment. In order to achieve this goal, many researches and more efforts need to be put in by people in charge of hospital food service management, and interests and support are needed from hospital policy makers.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2012

This study aims to develop the methods for effective patient flow in the medical center through simulation modeling. To achieve this, we developed three simulation scenarios based on max/min processing time and addition of X-ray by 15 patient tracks from real hospital data. The simulation software used in this study is Flexsim HC 2.7. According to the scenario 1 on 15 patient tracks' LOS by max processing time, there is a great difference between average length of stay(LOS) and max LOS. And average LOS increases greatly depending on the number of patients by the hours. There is no need to add extra X-ray because the addition of X-ray has not much influence in average LOS. It is possible to make good decisions on patient flow management and medical equipment purchasing through simulation modeling. The concrete simulation scenario as a tool for decision support will contribute to efficiency in hospital management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.219-223
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• 2018

Objective : To investigate nationwide statistics on flow-diverting stent usage for cerebral aneurysm treatment and related mortality data. Methods : We requested data extraction from the National Health Insurance Service claims database using electronic data interchange codes (J3207064, J3207073). Patient and hospital information as well as death statistics were collected from the database. Results : A total of 169 procedures were performed using flow-diverting stents for cerebral aneurysm treatment from November 2014 to December 2016 in Korea. The majority of primary diagnosis was unruptured intracranial aneurysm. During the study period, nine subjects died, including one patient initially diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The crude mortality rate was 5.3%. Five patients died within one month after the procedure; therefore, the estimated periprocedural mortality rate was $3.0{\pm}1.3%$. The mortality rate as of the last day of 2016 was $6.3{\pm}2.1%$. Conclusion : In a 171 person-year follow-up in a Korean series, nine deaths occurred after flow-diverting stent treatment. The crude mortality rate in Korea (5.3%) was higher than that reported in a previous meta-analysis (3.8%).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.258-264
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to confirm the characteristics of oral malodor patients by evaluating the differences of salivary flow rate, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) level in saliva between the patient and control groups, and the correlation with the tongue coating, volatile sulfur compound (VSC), salivary flow rate and sIgA level in saliva in the patients group. Methods : Forty-seven patients with oral malodor and twenty healthy volunteers were included in this study. Their tongue coating was assessed with the Winkel tongue coating index, and salivary flow rate, sIgA concentrations in saliva and the level of VSC in oral cavity were measured. Results : There were no significant differences of the salivary flow rate and the sIgA level in saliva between the patient and control groups, but there was a significant relationship between the accumulation of tongue coating and the level of VSC in oral cavity. Conclusions : Our results suggest that tongue coating is closely related to oral malodor, but further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between tongue coating and sIgA level in saliva.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.171-174
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• 2017

While many fertility preservation (FP) options now exist for reproductive-aged cancer patients, access to these services continues to be limited. A comprehensive FP program should be organized to serve oncofertility patients effectively. Also, much effort is needed from various individuals-patients, specialists from various fields, and consultants-to facilitate FP in a timely manner. Various challenges still exist in improving access to FP programs. To improve access to FP treatment, it is important to educate oncologists and patients via electronic tools and to actively navigate patients through the system. Reproductive endocrinology practices that receive oncofertility referrals must be equipped to provide a full range of options on short notice. A multidisciplinary team approach is required, involving physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, office staff, and laboratory personnel. The bottom line of FP patient care is to understand the true nature of each patient's specific situation and to develop a patient flow system that will help build a successful FP program. Expanding the patient flow system to all comprehensive cancer centers will ensure that all patients are provided with adequate information regarding their fertility, regardless of geography.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2003

The roots of teeth exposed by gingival recession, may be successfully covered by various type of gingival grafting procedures. Vascularization of the recipient site is an essential determinant of the grafts' survival during the first healing stages. It has been suggested that a procedure by which they stimulate the periosteum presurgically will induce the proliferation of neo-endothelium in the site to be operated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the variations in the gingival blood flow during 4weeks after periosteal stimulation in patient scheduled to receive gingival grafts and to compare variations in the gingival blood flow between smoker and non-smoker. Laser Doppler Flowmetry(floLAB(R), Moor Instruments Ltd, England ; wave length = 780mm. Max. power =l.6mW) was used to measure the gingival blood flow. 112 sites of 68 male patients (32 smokers and 36 non-smoker), aged between 23 and 48 years (smoker : 24-44 years. mean=32.6, non-smoker : 23-48 years, mean=28.5) were monitored for the blood flow. Gingival blood flow measured at before periosteal stimulation, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-weeks after periosteal stimulation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The difference of blood flow in each measuring time, each measuring site and between smokers and non-smokers were statistically analyzed by MANOVA. The results were as follows : (1) Blood flow stayed increased for 2 weeks, and then, it was a tendency to decrease(p<0.05). (2) There was no statistically significant difference of blood flow change between smokers and non-smokers. (3)The blood flow at middle site had lower than mesial and distal site during the measuring periods(p<0.05). The present study suggested that blood flow change following periosteal stimulation was significant difference, thus periosteal stimulation before gingival graft might induce favorable results in gingival recession patient.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2019

Objective : The objective of this study was to analyze patient-specific blood flow in ruptured aneurysms using obtained non-Newtonian viscosity and to observe associated hemodynamic features and morphological effects. Methods : Five patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysms were included in the study. Patients' blood samples were measured immediately after enrollment. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was conducted to evaluate viscosity distributions and wall shear stress (WSS) distributions using a patient-specific geometric model and shear-thinning viscosity properties. Results : Substantial viscosity change was found at the dome of the aneurysms studied when applying non-Newtonian blood viscosity measured at peak-systole and end-diastole. The maximal WSS of the non-Newtonian model on an aneurysm at peak-systole was approximately 16% lower compared to Newtonian fluid, and most of the hemodynamic features of Newtonian flow at the aneurysms were higher, except for minimal WSS value. However, the differences between the Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow were not statistically significant. Rupture point of an aneurysm showed low WSS regardless of Newtonian or non-Newtonian CFD analyses. Conclusion : By using measured non-Newtonian viscosity and geometry on patient-specific CFD analysis, morphologic differences in hemodynamic features, such as changes in whole blood viscosity and WSS, were observed. Therefore, measured non-Newtonian viscosity might be possibly useful to obtain patient-specific hemodynamic and morphologic result.