• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.79-91
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose was to study the market of traditional Korean medical devices and survey, list and number medical devices in traditional Korean medical clinics. Methods: we researched in three ways. 1. We investigated the list of devices regarded as traditional Korean medical devices in 'Report on production, export, and import of medical devices.' 2. We investigated the statistics of medical devices equipped in traditional Korean medical clinics through the website of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. 3. We surveyed medical devices in traditional Korean medical clinics by mail. Results: 1. We could not directly investigate the market for traditional Korean medical devices because they were not categorized as such ('traditional Korean medical devices'). 2. The number of medical devices in traditional Korean medical clinics has increased alongside the increase of traditional Korean medical clinics. 3. Traditional Korean medical clinics hold over 64,962 medical devices and have below 50 percent of traditional Korean medical diagnosis devices. 4. Meridian function testing machines, pulse diagnosis devices, and yangdorak showed ranking of equipment-ratio equal to ranking of insurance fees. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medical device regulations should be enacted following definitive and concrete Korean traditional medical concepts by the Korean traditional medical society.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.25-36
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• 2011

Objective: To check the status of traditional Korean medical doctors' medical services amid the continual increase in the number of traditional Korean medicine clinics. Methods: A survey of traditional Korean medicine clinics based on questionnaire sheets mailed to 4,200 out of 10,895 clinics, of which 465, or 11.0%, responded, in the June 1, 2008 to December 9, 2008 period. Results: 1. 65.6% of the traditional Korean responding clinics are doing business in a rented space; 92.1%of them are one-person institutions; 24.4% of them, i.e., the largest group of those surveyed, operate in a space sized 41 (123 $m^2$)~50 pyeong (150$m^2$). The number of sick beds installed in their facilities comes to 7.9 on average. 2. Concerning support staff, 190 of them (or 40.9%), i.e., the largest group of those surveyed, employ two people in this capacity. They generally comprise assistant nurses (48.7%) and others (47.6%). 3. The size of the space used by the clinics is showing a tendency to increase. The number of sick beds and support staff, including assistant nurses, reached a peak in 2006, and has been on the decrease since then. 4. The average number of on-days comes to six days a week among 92.6% of those surveyed. Their average daily service hours come to 9 hours and 33 minutes (from 9:17 am to 6:50 pm). 5. Per-patient service time: 14 minutes on average; per-patient acupuncture time: 18.8 minutes; per-patient moxa cautery time: 10.1 minutes per-patient; boil-cupping time: 5.7 minutes; per-patient physical treatment: 28 minutes. Conclusion: Periodical studies should be carried out concerning desirable ways of developing traditional Korean medicine clinics with the focus on the facilities, doctors' service hours, and types of service.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.90-99
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• 2011

Objectives: Comparison of the status of herbal medicine management carried out by traditional Korean medicine hospitals and clinics, and changes in the prices of the herbal medicines offered by them. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for 126 traditional Korean medicine hospitals and 4,200 traditional Korean medicine clinics. Questionnaire sheets were dispatched to them by mail in 2008. Rate of response: 57 hospitals (45.2%) and 465 clinics (11.0%) Results: 1. Concerning the herbal medicines kept by them, the hospitals and the clinics kept 295 and 147 kinds of medicine, respectively, on average. As for their monthly expenditure on the purchase of herbal medicines, the hospitals spent an average of KRW 28.38 million while the clinics spent an average of KRW 1.64 million. 2. The average monthly expenditure of the clinics on the purchase of herbal medicines decreased by 32% from 2006, which can be interpreted as a reduction of their business. 3. The prices of herbal medicines for disease treatment ranged from KRW 140,000~190,000 per jae(dosage form) in the hospitals compared to KRW 140,000~168,000 in the clinics. 4. Compared to 1994, the prices of herbal medicines used for disease treatment have risen, whereas the prices of herbal medicines used as tonics have decreased. Conclusions: There are no conspicuous differences between the hospitals and the clinics in terms of the prices charged for herbal medicines, regardless of whether they are used to treat diseases or prescribed as tonics.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.260-268
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• 2019

Objectives: The Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), which analyzes and uses electronic health records (EHR) for medical care, pursues patient-centered medical care. It is necessary to establish the CDSS in Korean medical services for objectification and standardization. For this purpose, analyses were performed on the points to be followed for CDSS implementation with a focus on herbal medicine prescription. Methods: To establish the CDSS in the prescription of Traditional Korean Medicine, the current prescription practices of Traditional Korean Medicine doctors were analyzed. We also analyzed whether the prescription support function of the electronic chart was implemented. A questionnaire survey was conducted querying Traditional Korean Medicine doctors working at Traditional Korean Medicine clinics and hospitals, to investigate their desired CDSS functions, and their perceived effects on herbal medicine prescription. The implementation of the CDSS among the audit software developers used by the Korean medical doctors was examined. Results: On average, 41.2% of Traditional Korean Medicine doctors working in Traditional Korean Medicine clinics manipulated 1 to 4 herbs, and 31.2% adjusted 4 to 7 herbs. On average, 52.5% of Traditional Korean Medicine doctors working in Traditional Korean Medicine hospitals adjusted 1 to 4 herbs, and 35.5% adjusted 4 to 7 herbs. Questioning the desired prescription support function in the electronic medical record system, the Traditional Korean Medicine doctors working at Korean medicine clinics desired information on 'medicine name, meridian entry, flavor of medicinals, nature of medicinals, efficacy,' 'herb combination information' and 'search engine by efficacy of prescription.' The doctors also desired compounding contraindications (eighteen antagonisms, nineteen incompatibilities) and other contraindicatory prescriptions, 'medicine information' and 'prescription analysis information through basic constitution analyses.' The implementation of prescription support function varied by clinics and hospitals. Conclusion: In order to implement and utilize the CDSS in a medical service, clinical information must be generated and managed in a standardized form. For this purpose, standardization of terminology, coding of prescriptions using a combination of herbal medicines, and unification such as the preparation method and the weights and measures should be integrated.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2019

Objectives: Pharmacopuncture is a new form of acupuncture treatment that injects herbal medicine into acupuncture points. This paper introduces the management status of pharmacopuncture through accreditation, and examines the effect of accreditation on pharmacopuncture management. Methods: The Accreditation System of External Herbal Dispensaries (EHDs) of traditional Korean medicine clinics announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in September 2018 were investigated. Results: The Accreditation System of EHDs assesses and certifies herbal medicine and pharmacopuncture preparations. Regular components for the 'pharmacopuncture' certification consist of nine standards, 30 categories, and 165 items. The nine standards include: herbal dispensary facilities, clean room management, management and organization operation, employee management, document management, continuous quality control, herbal medicine management, management of preparation, and pavement management. Conclusion: Through EHD accreditation and certification system, traditional Korean medicine clinics and EHDs can now manage pharmacopuncture medicine quality and promise safe pharmacopuncture treatment for the people.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to help improve the management of traditional Korean medical(TKM) clinics and the policies for supporting them, by conducting a survey of the practitioners of TKM. Methods Stratified sampling was conducted based on regional location, and 700 samples were selected in a random manner from the membership list. The questionnaire was delivered and returned by mail. The survey was conducted between 20 July and 31 August 2010. A total of 177 questionnaires (recovery rate: 25.28%) were recovered and analyzed for the study. Results 1. The the survey indicate that the overall size of TKM clinics has fallen compared with previous survey, while the average number of beds per clinic has remained unchanged at 7.9. The sale of medicine as a proportion of total monthly sales has increased. 2. There has been no change in the composition of clinical staff as there are three nursing assistants. Although the average daily number of patients to clinics has remained at around 33.90 compared with ten years ago, the number of patients requiring seeking acupuncture treatment has increased while the number of those treated with medication has decreased. 3. Clinicians in TKM have indicated their preference for a binary system that separates TKM from western medicine (57.4%). The respondents do not favor the separation of dispensary from medical practice (81.5%), marks of origin for medicinal herbs (68.9%), disclosure of the prescriptions (67.2%), and the overseas expansion of Korean medical services (70.4%). However, they indicated that they are very much in favor of being granted the authority to employ and give orders to medical technicians (96.0%). 4. The respondents selected Korea as the country that maintains a proper academic system for traditional medicine (45.5%), and are not in favor of opening Korea's traditional medicine market under an Free Trade Agreement(FTA) with China (72.7%). Conclusion The overall status of the management of TKM clinics has declined compared with the preceding decade. There has been only a slight change in clinicians' opinion of the related policies and regulatory issues.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2010

Objective : There is a growing need to expand or adjust insurance coverage of herbal prescriptions in National Health Insurance. The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for expansions or adjustments of 56 herbal prescriptions in the National Health Insurance. Method : We surveyed lists of 56 insurance-covered herbal prescriptions, non-covered company-produced herbal medicines and self-prepared herbal medicines in 531 traditional korean medical clinics by mail from 6/1/2008 to 12/9/2008. Result : Among the 56 Prescriptions, Ojeok-san was stocked in 66.7% of clinics (1st), Samso-eum ranked 2nd, Socheongnyong-tang ranked 3rd, Gumiganghwal-tang was 4th, Hyangsapyeongwi-san ranked 5th. Among the non-covered company-produced herbal medicines, Danggwisu-san ranked 1st, Gwakyangjeonggi-san ranked 2nd, Oryeong-san was 3rd, Bangpungtongseong-san was 4th, Maengmundong-tang ranked 5th. Among the self-prepared herbal medicines, Gongjin-dan ranked 1st, Soche-hwan was 2nd, Gyejibongnyeong-hwan was 3rd, Yeongsin-hwan was 4th, Palmi-hwan ranked 5th. Conclusions : It is reasonable to select frequently used company-produced or self-prepared herbal prescriptions in this stock rate survey for improvement of National Health Insurance coverage.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 2010

Objectives: This research aims to know the current status and prospect of traditional medical market to provide sources in setting a development strategy and making a policy on the traditional medicine Methods: This research categorized 11,611 clinics registered in telephone directory as of 2008 by region and some clinics were extracted with simple random method. The inquiry was made with questionnaires and analyzed on the base of frequency. Results: 1. The number of the employee in a clinic were slightly decreased from 2.9 in 2005 and 2006 to 2.8 in 2007. That of the patients also showed a downward tendency from 11,811 in 2005 through 11,716 in 2006 to 11,344 in 2007. 2. An annual turnover in a clinic amounted to 257 million won in 2007 from 232 million won in 2005 through 245 million won in 2006. 3. Approximately 92% of the responses made a negative diagnosis on the traditional medical market and 21% of responses indicated the overall economic recession as a primary reason in their opinions. 4. About 29% of responses presented the extension of medical insurance on traditional medicine as a prior policy. Conclusions: Based on the survey, the prospect of traditional medical market is positive, but the effort of the people in traditional medical system and the systematic support from government are required to activate the stagnated traditional medical market.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.278-280
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• 2005

A four-year-old intact female poodle was referred with a history of ocular discharge and corneal ulcer to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University. The dog was diagnosed severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) on bilateral eye. As the dog was not response to the ophthalmic medication, acupuncture treatment was applied to the dog. After 2 months from treatment, the dog was completely recovered from keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It is suggested that traditional veterinary medicine might be effective alternative therapy for the patient with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1983

Health institutions in Korea include a wide range of traditions, most notable of which are hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and health centers as foci for the dispension of western medicine care ; and herb clinics and shamans acting as centers for traditional medicine. Health consumers have pluralistic conceptions of illness(or disease) and act accordingly, using what they consider as appropriate medical practices. The research conducted surveyed residents of Jeomdong-Myon(a rural farming district), Guro 6-Dong(an urban district) and the Banwol(a semiurban district) area on attitudes about health institutions and their utilization of them. The results indicate that the hospital is considered the most reliable health institution, however, the most widely known and commonly used institution was the pharmacy. Hospitals and clinics were found to be utilized more frequently by those residents who were familiar with them than by others less familiar with them. In addition respondents with higher education, those with medical insurance, and those living in urban areas tended to utilize hospitals and clinics more frequently than their less educated, uninsured, or rural counterparts. Converse to the ranking of western medical institutions, traditional health institutions were rated low with regards to reliability, familiarity and utilization. This indicates that western medical care has pervaded the Korean medical system.