• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Since infectious disease hospitals are premised on emergency operations, the operational efficiency of secured personnel, equipment, facilities, etc. is relatively low. In order to increase such normal operational efficiency, it is necessary to flexibly operate facilities and operations during normal and emergency times. The purpose of this study is to suggest the architectural planning method focusing on the space composition and circulation of the regional infectious disease hospital which can increase the operational efficiency in the private hospitals. Methods: Through literature review, functional requirements of infectious disease hospitals were identified, and related personnels inter-views and field surveys were conducted to understand the spatial composition and circulation requirements of infectious disease hospitals. Results: Through the complete separation between the negative pressure zone and the general zone, even when the negative pressure zone is completely closed, the general zone should be operated separately to achieve operational efficiency. In addition, the separation of the negative pressure zone and the general zone should simultaneously consider the optimal space configuration and movement for each function while the zone settings match in the floor plan of each department and the overall cross-sectional configuration of the hospital. Implications: Infectious disease hospitals intended to be installed in private hospitals should not apply excessive space just for safety reasons and should plan to ensure their operational efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 2024

This study investigated the outpatient departments of Infectious Disease Hospitals by Region, which play an important role in establishing regional medical networking, to find a spatial structure that can provide a safe environment for efficient diagnosis and treatment, as well as a rational medical procedure in case of crisis. Department layout and adjacencies were derived by considering the access procedures according to patient classification, medical procedures by department, and connectivity with other departments. Based on the results derived by setting up zones according to infection control, activities, and objects, and analyzing the division of zones, the composition of areas by activities, movement flows by objects and treatment units, it can be used as basic data for the architectural plan of the Infectious Disease Hospital. Also, there are implications that can be used as basic data for planning related facilities by analyzing spatial relationships according to user behavior.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.353-356
• /
• 2015

Background: In 2012, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology investigated personnel potentially exposed to a Brucella suis isolate as it transited through three laboratories. Methods: We summarize the first implementation of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2013 revised recommendations for monitoring such exposures: (1) risk classification; (2) antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis; (3) serologic monitoring; and (4) symptom surveillance. Results: Over 30 people were assessed for exposure and subsequently monitored for development of illness. No cases of laboratory-associated brucellosis occurred. Changes were made to gaps in laboratory biosafety practices that had been identified in the investigation. Conclusion: Achieving full compliance for the precise schedule of serologic monitoring was challenging and resource intensive for the laboratory performing testing. More refined exposure assessments could inform decision making for follow-up to maximize likelihood of detecting persons at risk while not overtaxing resources.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.370-375
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The number of cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has sharply increased in Korea, especially among young adults. In this study, an HAV outbreak in a facility for disabled people was investigated, and we found epidemiological differences both between 2 different generations and between generally abled and disabled groups. Methods: We analyzed the incubation period and attack rate of an HAV outbreak and investigated the prevalence of HAV antibodies among the staff and residents of a facility for the disabled. We performed a retrospective cohort study during the HAV outbreak, which lasted from February 8 to 25, 2019, including examinations of HAV antibody tests and post-exposure HAV vaccination for the staff or residents of the facility. Results: There were 9 confirmed cases in 2 staff members and 7 residents. Among 53 people (30 staff and 23 residents), except for the 9 confirmed cases and 1 staff member with a known history of HAV infection, HAV seroprevalence was seen in 16.7% of the staff under 40 years of age and 95.2% of those over 40 years of age, while the corresponding rates in the residents were 0.0% and 58.8%, respectively. Conclusions: This result implies that it is necessary to prioritize HAV vaccination for vulnerable groups and workers of residential care facilities.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.434-444
• /
• 2013

Background: Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (RCC) were established for the prevention and treatment of cardiocerebrovascular disease and funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the measurement tool of public benefits in RCC. Methods: Through the intensive literature review, experts surveys and their repetitive feedback, we selected the 46 items about the public benefits in RCC. Development of measurement tool involved content validity test using Content Validity Index (CVI), construct validity test through factor analysis and reliability test. Results: Thirty-five items were selected by content validity test, which CVI was 0.08 or higher. Through the construct validity test, 32 items in 7 factors were derived. And Cronbach's alpha was 0.951. Finally, public benefits measurement tool is composed of 32 items in 7 factors which are comprehensiveness of health care services, market complement, emergency care, cost, governance, quality improvement, and government control. Conclusion: Though we developed the measurement tool of public benefits in RCC, it would be utilized to measure the public benefits of various health agencies.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.35-46
• /
• 2024

Purpose: It is the responsibility of public healthcare to respond quickly to infectious disease outbreaks and disasters such as MERS, COVID-19, the Syrian earthquake, and the Miryang Sejong Hospital fire accident. It is very important to secure safe medical facilities and protect lives through emergency medical support and disaster response systems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety status of regional medical facilities that play a central role in the event of a disaster. Methods: The target was 41 local public hospitals, including 35 regional medical centers and 6 Red Cross hospitals nationwide. We delivered a questionnaire to 41 medical facilities and collected data from 32 regional public hospitals that received responses. Results: In order to respond to safety accidents, a survey was conducted on infections, falls, patient identification, and incorrect connections for medical accidents, and for in-hospital accidents, a survey was conducted on entrapment, collision, water leaks, falling objects, and crime prevention. For natural disasters, we investigated the response environment for typhoons, floods, and snow damage, and for social disasters, we investigated the response environment for fire, power outages, and radiation damage. Implications: We hope that it will be used as basic data for developing standards and creating hospital facilities and environments that are safe for everyone to respond to various disasters and prevent patient safety accidents in the future.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study evaluated the effects and relevant factors of community-based education and advocacy intervention on stroke awareness among the general population. Methods: The study enrolled 505 community-dwelling adults aged 19 years or older who completed a survey before and after a community-based intervention held between May 2014 and December 2014. Trained staff collected data about knowledge of five stroke warning signs, emergency response, golden window of time (${\leq}3h$), and demographics. Results: After the intervention, public awareness of all five stroke warning signs increased significantly from 26.5% to 33.9% (p=0.011). Public awareness of the golden window of time also increased significantly from 70.1% in April 2014 to 75.8% in December 2014 (p=0.040). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age, higher education level, and exposure to stroke-related public service announcements or educational materials were significant predictors of knowledge of all five warning signs for stroke. Conclusions: Comprehensive community-based intervention is effective for improving public awareness of the warning signs of stroke and the golden window of time.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Facilities for infection prevention according to the characteristics of the patients, caregivers and medical personnel are needed in the patient triage room of the emergency department as a space for the first medical examination and classification of the patients. This study focus on the patient tirage room with the highest frequency of use in the emergency department to prevent the hospital acquired infection of the emergency department. Methods:: This study analyzed the facilities standard needed for the infection prevention through interviews with the medical personnel and analyses on the facilities standard/cases of foreign hospitals and facilities standard at home and abroad Results: And based on this, it attempted to present improvement measures by analyzing the line of circulation and space used by infected patients in a hospital designated in the regional emergency medical center among hospitals whose emergency department overcrowding index is high. Implications: The facilities standard for the infection prevention among the courses for patient classification of the emergency medical centers could be identified and implemented to prevent infection.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.3-9
• /
• 2022

The concept of "public health care (public health and medical services)" as discussed in South Korea is used in an unclear sense, with a meaning unlike the terminology used worldwide. The terms "public health care (public health and medical services)" and "health care (health and medical services)" have the same legal definition in Korea. Globally, "public health care (public health and medical services)" refers to medical services provided to the public that are operated as publicly funded resources, but in Korea, this term is confined to limited medical services prescribed by the government. The following considerations regarding "public health care (public health and medical services)" in Korea are proposed: All medical services performed by the state, regional governments, health care institutions, or health care workers to protect and promote the health of the people should be clearly established as "public health care (public health and medical services)" by definition. The financial burden borne by the state through national health insurance should be increased to an appropriate level to clarify the state's responsibility. Improving public health is an urgent priority in Korea, and this goal can be achieved by improving regional public health through systematic relationships between the state and regional governments, establishing a Ministry of Health, and efficiently allocating public health doctors who are important for providing regional medical care in rural and remote areas. It will be possible to actively deal with infectious diseases at the national level through establishment of a Ministry of Disease Control and Prevention.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.28-36
• /
• 2012

Purpose : This study was conducted to evaluate epidemiological data of the viral pathogens obtained from stool exams and provide information on the regional prevalence of infectious diarrheal disease west in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Methods : We enrolled a cohort of children <10 years of age admitted for treatment of acute diarrhea at Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. In total, 310 fecal specimens, documented to be free of common bacterial pathogens, were collected from pediatric patients during a 12-month period from January to December 2009 and were tested for the presence of rotavirus, parechovirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, enterovirus, and norovirus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Results : The most common virus was parechovirus (16%), followed by adenovirus (15%), astrovirus (14%), rotavirus (13%), and enterovirus (5%). Interestingly, only one of the specimens was positive for norovirus. Single infection cases were detected in 173 (55.8%) of the 310 children, whereas mixed viral infections were detected in 10 (3.2%) of the same children. Viral gastroenteritis generally showed a double peak of incidence. Parechovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus shared a similar pattern of peak incidence with overall viruses; however, astrovirus infections occurred more frequently in the spring. Eighty-five percent of the confirmed viral gastroenteritis cases developed in under 24 months. Conclusion : The results support the importance of parechovirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus as causative agents of diarrhea in children, which may be underestimated by current routine diagnostic testing.