• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.351-360
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose optimal hospitalization fees for nurse staffing levels and to improve the current nursing fee policy. Methods: A break-even analysis was used to evaluate the impact of a nursing fee policy on hospital's financial performance. Variables considered included the number of beds, bed occupancy rate, annual total patient days, hospitalization fees for nurse staffing levels, the initial annual nurses' salary, and the ratio of overhead costs to nursing labor costs. Data were collected as secondary data from annual reports of the Hospital Nursing Association and national health insurance. Results: The hospitalization fees according to nurse staffing levels in general hospitals are required to sustain or decrease in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, and increase in grades 5 and 6. It is suggested that the range between grade 2 and 3 be sustained at the current level, the range between grade 4 and 5 be widen or merged into one, and the range between grade 6 and 7 be divided into several grades. Conclusion: Readjusting hospitalization fees for nurse staffing level will improve nurse-patient ratio and enhance the quality of nursing care in hospitals. Follow-up studies including tertiary hospitals and small hospitals are recommended.

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.141-153
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• 2010

Seagrass epiphyte blooms potentially have important economic and ecological consequences in Tampa Bay, one of the Gulf of Mexico's largest estuaries. As part of a Tampa Bay pilot study to monitor the impact of environmental stresses, precise characterization of epiphyte diversity is required for efficient management of affected resources. Thus, epiphyte diversity may be used as a rational basis for assessment of ecosystem health. In May 2001, epiphytic species encompassing green, brown and red macroalgae were manually collected from dense and sparse seagrass beds of Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme. A total of 20 macroalgal epiphytes, 2 Chlorophyta, 2 Phaeophyta, and 16 Rhodophyta, were found on T. testudinum and S. filiforme seagrass at the four sampling sites (Bishop Harbor, Cockroach Bay, Feather Sound, and Mariposa Key). The Rhodophyta, represented by 16 species, dominated the numbers of species. Among them, the thin-crusted Hydrolithon farinosum was the most commonly found epiphyte on seagrass leaves. Species number, as well as species frequency of epiphytes, is higher at dense seagrass sites than sparse seagrass sites. Four attachment patterns of epiphytes can be classified according to cortex and rhizoid development: 1) creeping, 2) erect, 3) creeping & erect, and 4) erect & holding. The creeping type is characterized by an encrusting thallus without a rhizoid or holdfast base. Characteristics of the erect type include a filamentous thallus with or without a cortex, and a rhizoid or holdfast base. The creeping and erect type is characterized by a filamentous thallus with a cortex and rhizoid. A filamentous thallus with a cortex, holdfast base, and host holding branch is characteristics of the erect and holdfast attachment type. This study characterized each species found on the seagrass for epiphyte identification.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.173-178
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• 2017

Purpose: Most patients with acute low back pain visit emergency room (ER). They mostly need beds, and if their length of stay is longer, it can become difficult to accommodate new patients at the ER. We analyzed the treatment process of patients with back pain and tried to find method for shortening of the length of stay at the ER. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with back pain who visited at our ER for one year. Patients were divided into two groups according to their length of stay at ER and were compared the charateristcs of between two groups. Results: A total of 274 patients were included in the study. Eigthy-nine patients (32.5%) were in the group with less than 3 hours and 185 patients (67.5%) were in the other group. In the comparison of the two groups according to the medical departments, the number of patients who were in group with more than 3 hours were 25 (14.0%) in the emergency department, 94 (50.5%) in neurosurgery, 66 (35.5%) in orthopedic surgery. Length of stay was significantly increased in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery (p=0.014). In addition, the length of stay was longer when computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed (p=0.000). Regardless of the type of analgesic agent, the median time to the analgesic treatment was shorter in the group with less than 3 hours (p=0.034). Conclusions: In patients with back pain who visit the ER, the emergency medicine doctor will early control the pain and do not unnecessary image examination to reduce a length of stay at the ER.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of clinical competence in new graduate nurses. Methods: The subjects of this study were 238 nurses at 13 general hospitals who have had less than 12 months of nursing experience. The data were collected by structured questionnaire from August 5 to August 31 of 2009 and analyzed by the SPSS Win 12.0 program. Results: The total mean score for clinical competence was $181.05{\pm}15.17$, critical thinking disposition was $94.65{\pm}8.12$, and practice environment was $41.00{\pm}5.55$. There were significant differences of clinical competence according to the GPA (t=-3.58, p<.001), the number of beds in the hospital (t=-3.22, p=.001), instruction by preceptor (t=-2.32, p=.021), and previous experience of clinical practice in the hospital (t=-2.21, p=.028). Additionally, critical thinking disposition and practice environment were positively correlated to clinical competence (r=.50, p<.001; r=.20, p=.002). In multivariate approach, predictors included in this study explained 43% of variance in clinical competence. Significant predictors of clinical competence were critical thinking disposition ($\beta=.50$, p<.001), practice environment ($\beta=.14$, p=.012), and working duration ($\beta=.13$, p=.018). Conclusions: Based on these findings, it is needed that providing supportive practice environment and developing curriculum for enhancing the critical thinking disposition to improve the clinical competence in new graduate nurses.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.324-335
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose a revised Clinical Ladder System(CLS) Model for nurses based on the evaluation of clinical competence and professional activities of nurses working in general hospitals. Methods: Data were collected between September 10 and October 30, 2017. Participants were 50 head nurses from 10 general hospitals with over 400 beds located in Seoul City and Gyeonggi Province. Each head nurse evaluated clinical competence, qualifications, and professional activities of 5 staff nurses at each of the 5 levels of CLS in her unit. The total number of the nurses evaluated was 245. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and t-test, one-way ANOVA, and $Scheff{\acute{e}}$. Results: Over 80% of the nurses were university graduates. As the CLS levels increased, clinical competence, qualifications, and professional activities also increased significantly. Education material development and quality improvement activities were carried out by nurses from level 2, research and evidence based practice activities were carried out from level 3, and nurses at level 4 or 5 participated in most of the professional activities as leaders. Conclusion: In order to retain excellent nurses in general hospitals, recognizing and rewarding nurses according to the revised model of the CLS are recommended.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2019

Background: This study is designed to estimate the factors that affect the level of three different performance (publicity, efficiency, profitability) among regional public hospitals. Methods: The units of analysis are the regional 30 hospitals, which have the operating data during 22 years (from 1933 to 2014). The research method is used by fixed panel analysis. The publicity is measured by medicaid outpatient proportion and medicaid inpatient proportion. The efficiency is measured by two types of efficient score by DEA (data envelopment analysis). The profitability is measured by medical income to medical revenue and ROA (return on total asset). Results: At first, the increase of bed gives negative affect to the publicity but give positive effect to the efficiency and profitability. Because it means the increase of the region population, it gives more profitability compare to hospital with small number of beds. The more the operating period is the higher effect to the publicity and efficiency because of it's refutation. The debt ratio gives negative effect to publicity, but positive effect to profitability. It is the normal belief that there is inverse relationship between publicity and profitability. The turnover rate of bed gives the negative affect to the publicity, but positive affect to the efficiency and profitability. That give us the implication that type of the inpatient make different effect the hospital performance. The ratio of labor cost give negative effect to all kind of performance. That means that the higher labor cost don't mean the higher publicity and labor cost control is very important factors to hospital performance. So the region hospital have to focus the labor factors more to make higher performance. Conclusion: As the conclusion, the independent variables give similar effect to the efficiency and the profitability, but give inverse effect to the publicity. That means that if an region hospital want to make the more publicity, it loss the higher efficiency and profitability. Specially publicity is higher negative relation with the profitability.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.837-847
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hospital characteristics on employment rate, working period, and retirement of ward nurses in Korea through a retrospective cohort study based on HIRAS data. Methods: Data were obtained from a report on medical care institutions of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRAS). Data from 259,941 nurses who were working for a day or more from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016, at 2,942 medical care institutions were analyzed. Life table method analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were conducted. Results: The employment rates of 5 yeas and 10 years for the total sample were 38% and 28%, respectively. The estimated mean value of the working period was 3,642.7 days (SE: 17.4 days). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed that nurses who were working at the general hospital/hospital, clinic, and nursing hospital were more likely to leave the hospital compared to those who were working at the 3rd general hospital. Nurses who were working at the medical institutions which were located in cities and countries, established by the private foundation, rated lower levels of nursing, and owned an insufficient number of beds, nurses and doctors were more likely to leave their workplace compared to those of the counterparts. Conclusion: This study indicates that hospital characteristics may play a significant role in retirement and working period of ward nurses in Korea. The improvement of hospital conditions to reduce ward nurses' retirement are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.118-130
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to analyze the operational characteristics and to explore the substantiality plan of inpatient diets for foreigners in hospitals. Questionnaires were mail-delivered to 128 hospitals, and a total of 62 questionnaires were usable with a response rate of 48.4 percent. Statistical data analysis was completed using SPSS Win 11.0 for descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and ${\chi}^2$ test. Results can be summarized as follows. The average number of inpatient meals for foreigners in the last 6 months were 405 and 53 for general therapeutic diets and special therapeutic diets, respectively. The rates of hospitals with an exclusive department and exclusive staff for foreign inpatients were 48.4% and 53.2%, respectively. Major nationalities of foreign inpatients were China (37.5%) and Russia (31.3%), and their major medical departments were internal medicine (43.9%) and surgery (39.0%). The number of hospitals that provided inpatient diet only for foreigners was 42 (72.4%) and influencing factors were number of permitted beds (P<0.05), an exclusive department (P<0.001), and exclusive staff (P<0.01). The main type of menu was USA European style (61.1%), and the price of inpatient meals for foreigners was mostly \10,000~\25,000 (62.0%). As 75.9% of hospitals did not possess dietary slip manuals for foreigners, the case of preparing inpatient meals for foreigners in the form of a general therapeutic diet partially-modified according to disease was the majority (55.4%). Dietitians felt the need for nutrition management guidelines and dietary slip manuals (47.3%) as a substantiality plan of inpatient diets for foreigners. There is a need for exclusive foodservice standards for foreign inpatients in the changing medical environment.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2001

The purpose of this research is to plan the activation of university health business through the appraisal of the function and role of university health centers. To be more specific: Firstly, analyze the facility, personnel, health service of the health centers, Secondly, appraise the role and function of the health centers, and Thirdly, consider the activation plans of health centers. The research method taken was the study of surveys conducted and written research materials on 5 women's universities in Seoul. These materials where descriptively analyzed by converting the surveys, facility and usage of health center and current personnel status in to percentage. The major results of the research are as follows: Unlike as stated in each university's additional clause on the number of personnel were working. This lack of specialized personnel resulted into lack of specialized and various services. Medicine for external application were stocked well whereas only simple medicine for internal application were on shelf and were issued only with a doctor's prescription. Universities with a full-time doctor had various available equipments. One university conducting dental treatment was equipped with indirect chest camera, dental X-ray, unit, chair(dental treatment chair) and even supersonic, electrocardiogram were available. In the case of D women's university, the number of beds compared to the number of students was lower than that of the other 3 universities, to the total size of the university was smaller than that of the other 3 universities. Among health prevention and care matters, health consultation was the only matter practised by all universities. Uniquely, there was one university that hosted epidemic prevention business. There are various tests given by each university, with each showing many differences, but some universities did not even conduct these tests. Vaccinations were usually being conducted through commission. All universities provided basic treatment, therefore matters concerning treatment at health centers were being conducted well. Concerning the management of equipment and documents, all the matters were being conducted except one university where instead of a student medical record, they were using a daily record. Because these were women's universities, most of the educations were on women's health. The subjects of these educations included: sex, contraception, prevention and control of tuberculosis, obesity, mouth hygiene, alcohol, geriatric disease, mental health and first-aid. The rate of health center usage is growing. Being women's universities, the service and treatment practised were mostly concerning sex education.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.389-401
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• 2021

This study was performed to generate basic data to establish a health promotion plan for residents of Chungcheongbuk-do by identifying characteristics of discharged patients residing in the Chungcheongbuk-do area from an In-Depth Post-Discharge Injury Survey reported by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDCP). The Report provided data on demographic characteristics, medical institution use characteristics, medical use characteristics, and disease characteristics of patients discharged from medical institutions with 100 or more beds from 2013 to 2017. The total number of Chungcheongbuk-do residents who were admitted and discharged from 2013 to 2017 was estimated to be 1,656,590, and the discharge rate was 21,089, which was higher than the national average of 13,882 in 2016. The regions where the discharge rate increased during this period include Goesan, Yeongdong, Boeun, Okcheon, Jeungpyeong, and Eumseong-gun, which are mainly rural areas. Among the patients hospitalized and discharged from hospitals outside the Chungcheongbuk-do area, the discharge rate of patients who used hospitals in Incheon/Gyeonggi areas and Daejeon/Chungnam areas increased slightly. Among the malignant tumor patients, the number of lung cancer(included trachea & bronchial cancer) patients was the highest. In addition, the discharge rate was highest for patients with respiratory diseases. This study suggests that efforts need to be made to lower the discharge rate for infection, circulatory disease, genitourinary disease, and musculoskeletal disorder patients