• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-84
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• 2012

Because of the rising healthcare costs, there is a growing need for developing efficiency indicators for medical resources use and measuring efficiency of healthcare providers and healthcare systems using them. In this study, we aimed to develop efficiency indicators for medical resources use by means of Delphi technique. We systematically reviewed the existing measures of medical resource use. Thirty nine indicators were selected as a candidates across the six domains: medical personnel, medical equipment, medical facilities, ethical management, resource efficiency, and drug use. To develop efficiency indicators with professional consensus, a 2-round Delphi survey was conducted among 29 professional experts. The following indicators were selected based on the Delphi survey results: adjusted number of the patient per day and level of the nurse number medical personnel in medical personnel domain; the number of the scan a professional physician and the quality of the scan in medical equipment domain; bed utilization rate in medical facility domain; drug price reported pharmaceutical price by medical institutions, medical fee billing transparency, and medical care appropriateness in ethical management domain; costliness index in resource efficiency domain; and utilization of high cost drug and items per prescription in drug use domain. The efficiency indicators could provide valid information about efficiency of healthcare providers and healthcare systems with respect to their resources use and facilitate policies to improve their efficiency.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 1984

This study was conducted to identify the problems in the medical aid program by reviewing the medical care utilization pattern of the beneficiaries. The data were abstracted from the monthly bills and vouchers for medical care of the whole benefi챠aries(17,527) in Gyeongsan Gun submitted by the physicians to county government for the period of 1 calendar year from October 1981 to September 1982. The number of medical aid beneficiary accounted for 12.7% of the total county population, a higher proportion than the national average-9.5%. Monthly primary care utilization rate per 100 beneficiaries was 9.3 persons with 14.0 visits and 42.9 medication days. for the 2nd and 3rd care, there were 1.7 admissions and 9.3 OPD visits per 100 beneficiaries per year. The beneficiaries of the first class medical aid program had a higher utilization rate of both the primary and secondary/tertiary care facilities. Females utilized more the primary care facilities than males while males utilized more the secondary/tertiary care facilities than females. A significantly lower utilization rate was observed in January than in the other months and this was seemed due to the renewal process of the medical aid certificate. Among 1,931 patients utilized the 2nd/3rd care facilities 84.4% was out-patients and the lowest ratios were in the minor specialties including ENT, ophthalmology, dermatology and urology. The average hospital days per in-patient were 21.2 days and OPD days per out patient were 4.7 days. The average hospital days for a psychiatry in-patient was 74.4 days which was the longest average hospital days among all the specialties. Average medical care cost per beneficiary in a year was W9,821:W24,240 for the 1st class and W7,464 for the 2nd class. The medical care cost for the primary care per patient was W3.901 and W840 per day compared with W49,875 per patient and W5,822 per day for the secondary/tertiary care. From the findings of this study following recommendations were made to improve the medical care program: 1) The renewal process of the medical care certificate should be expedited. 2) Minor specialty clinics should be designated as the primary medical care facility for the medical aid program to reduce the expenses by absorbing more patients referred to the secondary/tertiary care facilities directly. 3) The medical care cost for the primary care facility should be escalated to reduce the differential between the primary and secondary/tertiary care facilities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.442-450
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• 1988

Effects of various factors related to the process of social action of hospital services on the selecting a hospital were investigated by using of questionnaires answered by 1,319 patients in a certain University Hospital, in Chungchongnam-Do, from November, 1986 to November, 1987. The results summarized were as follows ; 1. Each of the examined factors, that is, sincerity of an attendant physician in medical treatment and explaining the condition of a disease, confidence to doctor and nurse, doctor's and nurse's response to calling by patient, kindness of the hospital staffs and food handlers, sanitariness of hospital, cleanness of clothes and bed sheets, hospital foods, and rest surroundings, are not solely decisive to attitude of hospital utilization, but the factors effects compositely on hospital utilization 2. Hospital services of the social action process are more effective to hospital utilization in cases of the hospitalization caused by the traffic facility than for the medical skill and facilities.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 1980

The increasing utilization of radioactive isotopes in industry, medicine and research has raised the question, 'How should hospitals deal with radiation injuries when they occur?' A system for initial management of radiation injuries has been developed by Radiation Management Corporation. Radiation injuries are classified and a treatment plan outlined for each at the emergency and short term medical care phase. This system includes clinical prognosis as well as a detailed plan for quick set up or a Radiation Emergency Area in any hospital. Procedures for patient admission, preparation of the facility, general decontamination, sample taking, and wound decontamination are included.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.326-334
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• 2020

Background: Korea has gradually expanded the coverage of medical care services in its national health insurance system. On April 1, 2018, it implemented a policy that expanded the coverage for an ultrasonography in the upper abdomen. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the policy on the utilization of the ultrasonography in the upper abdomen in tertiary care hospitals. Methods: Using the dataset of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we explored changes in the utilization of the ultrasonography in the upper abdomen in tertiary care hospitals from July 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018 through the difference-in-difference (DID) mixed-effects-model method. Facility factor, equipment factor and personnel factors, type of hospital, the total amount of medical care expenses, and geographic region were considered as control variables. Results: On average, the utilization of the ultrasonography in the upper abdomen increased by 228% after the coverage expansion policy. However, the results of DID mixed-effects-model method analysis showed that the utilization increased by 73%. As for the number of beds, the utilization was higher with a group of 844-930, 931-1,217, and 1,218 or greater compared with a group of 843 or fewer, while the utilization of the number of ultrasonic devices was lower with a group of 45-49 compared with a group of 44 or fewer. The utilization decreased with the number of interns and the number of nurse assistants. Besides, relative to Seoul, the utilization was lower in the other metro-cities and provinces. Conclusion: The coverage expansion policy in the national health insurance system increased service utilization among people. Future research needs to investigate the degree to which such coverage expansion policy reduces the unmet medical care needs among the deprived in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.814-827
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• 1998

In this study we analyzed the insurance claims data to investigate the medical care utilization pattern of tuberculosis patients in private sector. We selected the claims of principal or secondary diagnosis with tuberculosis from claims database of National federation of Medical Insurance, from December 1995 to November 1996. Both spell-based analysis and person-based analysis were carried out. In spell-based analysis, type and location of treatment facilities, distribution of diagnoses, number of outpatient/inpatient treatments were analyzed. Additionally in person-based analysis, number of tuberculosis patients, demographic characteristics, number of treatments per person, frequency and pattern of change in source of care were analyzed. The results were as follows 1. The number of treatments with tuberculosis was 863,641 from 1 December 1995 to 30 November 1996. The number of patients was 313.964. 2. Most of tuberculosis patients in private sector were treated in general hospital (45.8%) and clinics(42.2%) 3. About 77.7% of tuberculosis patients who were treated more than two times did not change the source of care. 18,9% of tuberculosis patients changed source of care only once. Even when we limited tuberculosis patient to those who were treated more than five times and whose treatment period were longer than six months, 94.7% of patients did not change source of care at all, or changed treatment facility only once. 4. The probability of change in source of rare was higher in pulmonary tuberculosis, in twenties, and in rural area respectively than other tuberculosis. In conclusion, healer shopping of tuberculosis patients was not serious as expected. However special attention is needed to pulmonary tuberculosis in twenties and rural area.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.27-35
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• 2020

Purpose: A solid system in the process of establishing guidelines can increase social acceptance and utilization. The paper aims to comparatively analyze the system in which guidelines for health care facilities in the US, Australia, and the UK and suggest implications for Korea. Method: It conducted literature analysis of the system in the framework of composition, governance, and procedure for the Facility Guidelines Institute's Guideline for US, Australia's Australasian Health Facility Guidelines for Australia, and Health Building Notes for UK. Results and Implications: First, in terms of composition, the guidelines for health care facilities can be divided into composition by space and composition by issue. It is proposed to establish a system that space and issues are clearly separated, such as Australia's AusHGF, and complete it step by step. Second, in terms of governance, despite the fact that the medical supply is privately oriented, the medical system is controlled by the government in Korea. Therefore, it is suggested to form a separate organization in the public sector that establishes, researches, and revises the guideline that will serve as a focal point for experts in various fields to participate. Third, in terms of procedure, it is suggested to establish a guideline that reflects the experiences and demands of consumers by clearly organizing procedures including collecting opinions.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of chronic disease and utilization of medical facility in rural area. 5,797 persons were randomly selected from 28,883 rural residents who were over 30 years old and living in Moonkyung city in Kyungsangpook Province during the period October 1 1983 to February 28 1994. The person prevalence rate was 336 per 1,000. The prevalence rate in men(278 per 1,000) was higher than that(388 per 1,000) in women. The spell prevalence rate in men(367) was significantly higher than that(429) in women (p<0.05). The prevalence was increased with the age, 106 in the 30's. 223 in the40's, 336 in the 50's, 407 in the 60's, and 457 in the age group of 70 above. Of all chronic diseases, the prevalence of neuralgia ranked first(128), chronic gastrointestinal disorders(64), degenerative arthritis(54). hypertension (44) and diabetes (14) were followed in descending order. In men, the prevalence of neuralgia ranked first, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, degenerative arthritis, hypertension and bronchial asthma were followed in descending order. In women, the prevalence of neuralgia ranked first, degenerative arthritis, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension and diabetes were followed in descending order. The prevalences of neuralgia, degenerative arthritis and hypertension were significantly higher in women than those in men, however, those of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary tuberculosis and liver cirrhosis in men were significantly higher than those in women(p<0.05). Most patients with chronic diseases were more likely to utilize hospital and/or local clinics than public health facility or community health providers. Patients with neuralgia, degenerative arthritis and bronchial asthma tended to utilizing local clinics initially, however, they were changed to visit public health facility or community health providers afterwards. Patients with hypertension or pulmonary tuberculosis were more likely to visit public health facility, however, those with diabetes, cancer, heart failure, CVD, liver cirrhosis were more likely to visit hospital.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.107-126
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• 1991

The purpose of the study was to assess the morbidity pattern and the medical care utilization behavior of the urban residents in the poor area. The study population included 2,591 family members of 677 households in the poor area of Daemyong 8 Dong, Nam-Gu, Taegu and 2,686 family members of 688 households, near the poor area in the same Dong, were interviewed as a control group. On this study the household interview method was applied. Well-trained interviewers visited every household in the designated area and individually interviewed heads of households or housewives for general information, morbidity condition, and medical care utilization with a structured questionnaire. Individuals were interviewed from 1 to 30 December 1988. The major results were summarized as follows : The proportion of the people below 5 years of age was 4.2% of the total study population and 5.5% were above 65 years of age in the poor area. This was slightly higher than in the control area. The average monthly income of a household in the poor area was 403,000 won versus 529,000 won in the control area. Fifty-eight percent of the residents in the poor area and sixty-one percent in the control area were medical security beneficiaries, but the proportion of medical aid beneficiaries was 7.8% in the poor area and 4.6% in the control area. The 15-day period morbidity rate of acute illnesses was 57.1 per 1,000 in the poor area and 24.2 per 1,000 in the control area. Respiratory disease is the most common acute illness in both areas. The most frequently utilized medical facility was the pharmacy among the patients with acute illnesses in the poor area. Among them 58.1% visited pharmacy initially while 38.4% of the patients in the control area visited a clinic. Among persons with illnesses during the 15 days 8.8% in the poor area and 4.6% in the control area did not seek any medical facility. Mean duration of utilization of medical facilities was 3.5 days in the poor area and 3.3 days in the control area. Initially of the medical facilities in Daemyong 8 Dong, The pharmacy in the poor area and the clinic in the control area were most commonly utilized. The most common reason for visiting the hospital was 'regular customers' in the poor area and 'geographical accessibility' in the control area. The one year period morbidity rate of chronic illness in the poor area was 83.0 per 1,000 population and 28.0 per 1,000 in the control area. Disease of nervous system was the most common chronic illness in the poor area while cardiovascular disease in male and gastrointestinal disease in female were most prevalent in the control area. The most frequently utilized medical facility was the pharmacy among the patients with chronic illnesses in the poor area. Among them 24.2% visited the pharmacy initially while 34.7% of the patients in the control area visited the out-patient department of the hospital within a 15-day period. Among the patients with chronic illnesses 34.9% in the poor area and 16.0% in the control area did not seek any medical facility. Mean duration of utilization of medical facilities was 9.2 days in the poor area and 9.9 days in the control area within a 15-day period. Initially of the medical facilities in Daemyong 8 Dong, the pharmacy in the poor area and the hospital in the control area were most commonly utilized. The most common reason for visiting the hospital, clinic, health center or pharmacy in the poor area was 'geographical accessibility' while the reason for visiting herb clinic was 'good result' and 'reputation' in both areas.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-192
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• 1998

This study was performed investigate the opinion of civil servants in Health center about Rural Health Service Improvement Project The survey by mail was carried out for 447 servants of 25 health centers in Kyungsangbuk-do and the data were collected through self-administered questionnaires to servants about need, participation, concern, and comprehension for the project and satisfied with current facility and equipment of health center. The results were as follows. Generally considered, 48.2% of the improved health center servants was satisfied with health center building and 14.0% or 24.1% of the improving or unimproved center was. About the location of health center, 37.7% of the improved health center servants was satisfied, 25.9% of the unimproved center was. Of the improved health center servants, 43% was satisfied with the medical equipment but in unimproved place, the dissatisfaction was appeared higher than any other place. 49.7% of respondents was participated in making out the Rural Health Service Improvement Project. 50.6% was interested in this project. In the improved area. 65.5% of health center servants replied that the mayor's or county executive's concern about this project was high and 46.5% in councilors but in the unimproved area. their concern was low. About the contents of the project. 24,6% of the servants in the improved center, only 15.2% in unimproved center replied that they had known well. After making out the plan, 13.6% of respondents was unsatisfied with this plan and 17.1% replied that the estimating method of selecting the project area was not good. After the improvement of institution and equipment, 86.1% of health center servants answered that the medical service provided by health center would increase but 59.2% replied that the residents' utilization rate of private medical facility would decrease. The servants of the improved health center replied that the recognition about the developing will of health service(91.2%), the efficiency(91.2%), the quality of health and medical service(93.0%), the amount of health project(91.2%) were improved. In health center which had already improved the institution and equipment, 88.5% of servants replied that the residents' utilization for health center was increased. So, this project should be continuously carried out for health center and health center must develope new project to fit region condition.