• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.56-71
• /
• 1996

Background : Review of readmissions in health care facilities is necessary from the viewpoint of both economic concerns and quality considerations. To identify the characteristics, factors, and causes of multiple admissions in comparison with single admissions is essential for both providers and payers in order to assure quality care and efficient use of medical resources. Methods: All discharges from an university hospital in 1993 were analyzed, and the characteristics of multiple admissions were identified and were compared with those of single admissions by using the data bases of the discharge abstract and billing for reimbursement. Medical records of patients readmitted within 6 days after the previous discharge were reviewed to identify the reasons for such prompt readmission. Statistical analysis between groups of patients were performed by using SPSS. Result : The mean age was higher in multiple admissions than those of single admissions, and the average length of stay was longer in multiple admissions than in single admissions. The hospital cost per day is higher in single admissions while the cost per case is higher in multiple admissions. More than half of readmissions occurred within one month after the preceding discharges. Above 15% of the readmission within 6 days after the preceding discharges seemed to have close relationship with quality of care provided during the preceding hospitalization. The death rate of the patients readmitted within 6 days was the highest in comparison with multiple admissions and single admissions. Conclusion : Potential preventable readmissions should be reduced by identifying characteristics of multiple admissions, especially unplanned readmission, and by applying some interventions such as standard predischarge assessment or careful follow-up care after discharge for high risk readmission groups. As the results of these efforts, health care facilities could achieve quality improvement in medical care, and effective use of hospital resources.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.83 no.2
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early tracheostomy on clinical outcomes in patients requiring prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (≥96 hours). Methods: Data from 575 patients (69.4% male; median age, 68 years), hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital March 2008-February 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Early and late tracheostomy were designated as 2-10 days and >10 days after translaryngeal intubation, respectively. Results: The 90-day cumulative mortality rate was 47.5% (n=273) and 258 patients (44.9%) underwent tracheostomy. In comparison with the late group (n=115), the early group (n=125) had lower 90-day mortality (31.2% vs. 47.8%, p=0.012), shorter stays in hospital and ICU, shorter ventilator length of stay (median, 43 vs. 54; 24 vs. 33; 23 vs. 28 days; all p<0.001), and a higher rate of transfer to secondary care hospitals with post-intensive care settings (67.2% vs. 43.5% p<0.001). Also, the total medical costs of the early group were lower during hospital stays than those of the late group (26,609 vs. 36,973 USD, p<0.001). Conclusion: Early tracheostomy was associated with lower 90-day mortality, shorter ventilator length of stay and shorter lengths of stays in hospital and ICU, as well as lower hospital costs than late tracheostomy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2020

Background: Recently, a study comprising adult patients with sepsis admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) was conducted. The patients were treated with high doses of intravenous ascorbic acid, thiamine, and hydrocortisone; the clinical outcomes demonstrated significant therapeutic benefits. The mortality rate in children with sepsis is approximately 25%. However, the effects of additional treatment with ascorbic acid and thiamine ("vitamin protocol") in children are rarely investigated. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using medical records of patients diagnosed with sepsis and admitted to the pediatric ICU (PICU) between September 2016 and June 2019. The control group received treatment only as per sepsis protocol, whereas the treated group received both sepsis protocol and the vitamin protocol. The primary endpoint was change in Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS) for 5 days. The secondary endpoints included the length of stay in the PICU, duration of using mechanical ventilators and vasopressors, and mortality rate. Results: The number of patients in the treated and control groups was 33 and 24, respectively. The treated group showed greater decrease in their VIS for 5 days than the control group (44.4 vs 18.6); however, the difference was not statistically significant. The length of stay in the PICU was significantly longer for the treated group than for the control group [10.0 days (Interquartile range (IQR), 6-18) vs 4.5 days (IQR, 4-10.3); p=0.004]. Conclusions: No significant treatment benefits were observed following vitamin protocol administration to the pediatric patients with sepsis. Further studies are necessary for improving the efficacy and safety of the vitamin protocol.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2016

Background: This study examined patient and hospital factors related to long-stay admissions in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) among older people in Korea. Methods: We analyzed health insurance claims data, entitlement data, and institutional administrative data from the National Health Insurance Service databases between 2010 and 2012. At the patient level, we compared characteristics of patients staying in LTCHs for over 180 days (the long-stay group) with those staying in LTCHs for less than 90 days during a calendar year. At the hospital level, we examined the general characteristics and staffing levels of the top 10% of hospitals with the highest proportion of patients whose length of stay (LOS) was 180+ days (the hospitals with long-stay patients) and compared them with the top 10% of hospitals with the highest proportions of patients whose LOS was less than 90 days (hospitals with shorter-stay patients). Results: The long-stay group accounted for about 40% of all LTCH patients. People in the group were more likely to be women, aged 80+, living alone, and experiencing more than two health conditions. Compared to the hospitals with shorter-stay patients, those with long-stay patients were more likely to be occupied by patients with behavior problems and/or impaired cognition, owned by corporate or local governments, have more beds and a longer period of operation, and deliver services with lower staffing levels. Conclusion: This study found long-stay older people in LTCHs and those in LTCHs with high proportions of long-stay older patients had several distinct characteristics compared to their counterparts designated in this study. Patient and hospital characteristics need to be considered in policies aiming to resolve long-stay admissions problems in LTCHs.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.155-161
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated a redistribution of resources to meet hospitals' service needs. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on a regional trauma center in South Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of polytrauma at a single regional trauma center in South Korea between January 20 and September 30, 2020 (the COVID-19 period) and compared them to cases reported during the same time frame (January 20 to September 30) between 2016 and 2019 (the pre-COVID-19 period). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included the number of daily admissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS. Results: The mean number of daily admissions decreased by 15% during the COVID-19 period (4.0±2.0 vs. 4.7±2.2, p=0.010). There was no difference in mechanisms of injury between the two periods. For patients admitted during the COVID-19 period, the hospital LOS was significantly shorter (10 days [interquartile range (IQR) 4-19 days] vs. 16 days [IQR 8-28 days], p<0.001); however, no significant differences in ICU LOS and mortality were found. Conclusions: The observations at Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital corroborate anecdotal reports that there has been a decline in the number of patients admitted to hospitals during the COVID-19 period. In addition, patients admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly shorter hospital LOS than those admitted before the COVID-19 pandemic. These preliminary data warrant validation in larger, multi-center studies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.38-46
• /
• 1984

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of the structured preoperative teaching on post-operative recovery and to observe the effects of an structured preoperative teaching on the adult surgical patient's ventilatory function ability, the length of hospital stay, the number of analgesics within a 72 hour postoperative period, the length of early ambulation. The research question investigated in this study was: What would be the effects of a structured preoperative teaching upon the adult surgical patients postoperative recovery? This study was based on a sample of 40 patients who were scheduled for abdominal surgery. They were asssigned alternately to experimental and control group. Among 40 subjects, 20 were placed in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. Preoperative ventilation function testing of control and experimental subjects was done the evening before surgery and before the patient received the structured preoperative teaching. A structured preoperative teaching was given to the subjects in the exporimental group only by writer. Postoperative testing was done the 5th postoperative day. The data were collected over a period of two months, from Aug. 8 to Oct. 31, 1983. For the analysis of the data and test for the hypotheses, the t-test with mean difference was used. The results of this study regarding the four-hypotheses were as follows: 1. Experimental group which received structured preoperative eaching will have more increase to-cough and deep breathe as measured byhis forced vital capacity(FVC), forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1), maximal voluntary volume 15 (MVV 15) than control group without structured preoperative teaching. The ventilation function ability was more increase in experimental group than in control group, the mean difference was statistically significant at 0.01 level. Hypotheses 1 was supported. 2. Experimental group with structured preoperative teaching will have more reduced the length of hospital stay than control group without structured preoperative teaching. The length of hospital stay of the experimental group and control group were 11.90 days and 16.05 days respectively. However, the difference was. not statistically significant at .05 level. Therefore the hypothese 2 was not supported. 3. Experimental group with structured preoperative teaching will have more reduce the number of analgesics within a 72 hour postoperative period than control group. The number of analgesics within a 72 hour' postoperative period of experimental group and control group were 1.65 times and 2.4 times. The difference was not statically significant at .05 level. Therefore, the hypotheses 3 was not supported. 4. Experimental group with structured preoperative. teaching will have more reduce the length of early ambulation than control group without structured preoperative teaching. The length of early ambulation of experimental group and control group were 2.2 days and 3.5 days respectively The difference was statistically signficant at 0.05 level. Thus the hypothess 4 was supported.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2005

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a prevalent and potentially life threatening illness. American Thoracic Society and Infectious Disease Society America recommend combination therapies with ${\beta}-lactam$ plus a macrolide or a fluoroquinolone monotherapy for the empirical treatment of CAP. The aim of this study was to compare moxifloxacin monotherapy with cephalosporin plus azithromycin combination therapies. From January 2004 to March 2005, 18 patients in the moxifloxacin group(MG) and 21 patients in the cefuroxime or ceftriaxone plus azithromycin group(CAG) with CAP were retrospectively reviewed with regard to clinical, laboratory and microbiological data. Each patient was stratified into mild (risk class I-II), moderate (risk class III) and severe (risk class VI, V) group according to and PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) score. Each group was compared for microbiological eradication, clinical assessment, the length of hospital stay. As results, Total 39 patients with CAP were reviewed. The appropriateness of admission was 83.3% in MC vs. 76.2% in CAC. The mean length of the hospital day was for 8.31 days vs. 7.39 days, days switching parenteral to oral antibiotics in 5.19 days vs. 5.28 days, clinical improvement in 2.43 days vs. 2.61 days in MG vs. CAC. Radiological improvement required 3.75 days vs 3.63 days in MG vs. CAG and bacteriological eradication rate at discharge was the same in the both groups. Mortality rate was 11.1% (2 of 18) vs 14.3% (3 of 21) in MG vs. CAG (p=0.77). Drug cost of the mean 5 hospital days requiring parenteral antibiotics was the most inexpensive in moxifloxacin group for the 147,045 won, and ceftriaxone 1g-azithromycin group for the 170,285 won, cefuroxime bid-azithromycin group for the 207,800 won, ceftriaxone 2g-azithromycin group far the 220,570 won, cefuroxime tid-azithromycin group for the 251,700 won. There was no significant statistical difference in clinical, bacterial, radiological cure and hospital days, and switch to oral days. In conclusion, that i.v. moxifloxacin monotherapy was as effective as azithromycin plus cefuroxime or ceftriaxone combination therapies fur the treatment of CAP. In drug cost analysis, moxifloxacin is less expensive than CAG.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.338-342
• /
• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to implement a critical pathway (CP) for patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy and describe the results before and after the CP in terms of length of hospital stay and cost. Methods : From March 2008 to February 2009, 61 patients underwent lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy due to stenosis or one- or two-level disc herniation in our department and were included in the prepathway group. After development and implementation of the CP in March 2009, 58 patients were applicable for the CP, and these were classified as the postpathway group. Results : The CP, which established a 6-day hospital stay (5 bed-days), was fulfilled by 42 patients (72.4%) in the postpathway group. The mean length of stay was 5.4 days in the postpathway group compared to 6.9 days in the prepathway group, demonstrating a 20% reduction, which was a statistically significant difference ($p{\leq}0.000$). There was a statistically significant reduction in charges for bed and nursing care (p=0.002). Conclusion : Implementation of a CP for lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy produced significant decreases in length of hospitalization and charges for bed and nursing care. We believe that this CP reduces the unnecessary use of hospital resources without increasing risk of adverse events.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.123-131
• /
• 2003

This study was to compare the functional status. complication and readmission rates. and client satisfaction with nursing care of home-based care and hospital-based care for clients with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. Raw data were collected by interviewing and reviewing charts of 41 clients with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft between June 2001 and July 2002 at an university hospital located in Seoul. Korea. Out of 41 clients. 15 were in home care group and 26 were in hospitalization group. The baseline characteristics of the groups were almost identical. Mean age was 61.7 and 75.6% of clients being male. For home care group. the data collection was made at discharge and at termination of home care. and for hospitalization group. at discharge and at the first visit of outpatient department. Complication and readmission rates were investigated at one month after operation. Collected data were then analysed by conducting Chi-square test. Wilcoxon rank sum test. and Wilcoxon signed ranks test with SPSS program. The level of significance was .05. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. Postoperative length of stay of the home care group was shorter than that of hospitalization group by 1. 14 days(8.45 days vs. 9.59 days). On average. 1.8 home visits per client were observed. 2. The functional status (Barthel Index) at the termination of home care was significantly increased from that at discharge. For hospitalization group. a significant increase was observed between the functional status at the discharge and that at the first visit of outpatient department. The differencies in incremental of the scores. between the groups. were however not significant. 3. Complication and readmission rates; no statistically significant difference between the groups was observed. 4. The client satisfaction with nursing care (CSS) at termination of home care was significantly higher than that at hospital discharge. In conclusion. the outcomes of the analysis suggest that the home care benefits clients with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. Client satisfaction with nursing care rises at termination of home care as compare to that measured at hospital discharge. Meanwhile. there was no significant differences in functional status. and complication and readmission rates. Further. home care reduced the length of stay in hospital.

• Clinical Endoscopy
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.754-760
• /
• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) can heal a variety of defects within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract via applying negative pressure, which reduces the defect size, aspirates the infected fluid, and promotes granulation tissue. Here we present our experience with EVT as it relates to both spontaneous and iatrogenic upper GI tract perforations, leaks, and fistulas. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at four large hospital centers. All patients who underwent EVT between June 2018 and March 2021 were included. Data on multiple variables were collected, including demographics, defect size and location, number and intervals of EVT exchanges, technical success, and hospital length of stay. Student t-test and the chi-squared test were used to analyze the data. Results: Twenty patients underwent EVT. The most common defect cause was spontaneous esophageal perforation (50%). The most common defect location was the distal esophagus (55%). The success rate was 80%. Seven patients were treated with EVT as the primary closure method. The mean number of exchanges was five with a mean interval of 4.3 days between exchanges. The mean length of hospital stay was 55.8 days. Conclusions: EVT is a safe and effective initial management option for esophageal leaks and perforations.