• 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.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 1991

The medical insurance system has been adopted in rural areas in 1988. Since then, the utilization of medical care services has increased rapidly in rural areas. According to the various study on medical care utilization, the people in rural areas used more curative care services than urban areas. The purpose of this study was to analyze the utilization and expenses of medical care services in designated rural areas : Choonseong Gun, Kangwon Province ; and Soonchang Gun, Cheonbuk province in Korea. Medical care utilization of medical care beneficiaries showed slightly increase, while there was a decrease of 18% and more for the medicaid. Regarding selection of medical care institutions, medical care beneficiaries used more hospitals and clinics than health center networks, but the health center networks was used more by the medicaid. However, the hospitalized Soonchang health center was able to provide more curative care to the people than the other two health centers. More than 50% of the patients treated by hospitalized health center were residents of the place in which health center was located.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.102-127
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to analyze a current trend of and relating factors on profitability of the Korean Public Corporation Medical Centers(KPCMCs, hereinafter, hospitals) in Korea. There are 34 hospitals in Korea as of 2004. Among these hospitals some are red ink hospitals, others are black inks in terms of profitability. Data were collected by Korea Health Industry Development Institute(KHIDI) Statistics for Hospital Management 2000-2002 and Ministry of Health and Welfare(MOHW) financial data of public hospitals which was planned to coordinate public health care services roadmap in the long run. The samples are 32 hospitals. Profitability was measured in the aspect of profit rate with normal profit to total assets, and normal profit to gross revenues as dependent variables in respective. Independent variables were classified by general factors, i.e., location, intern/resident training, period of opening, number of beds, and managerial factors(current ratio, fixed ratio, liability to total assets, total assets turnover, personnel costs, materials cost, administrative cost), and finally factors related to patient treatment(average length of stay, bed occupancy rate, admission ratio of outpatients). The methods of analysis are correlation and multiple regression analysis. This study shows firstly, a lot of hospitals are optimal current ratio. Hospitals in upper 100% current ratio are 81.2%. And the personnel cost in total costs are high. Secondly, the trend of normal profit to gross revenues of hospitals are deteriorating gradually. And lastly, as a result of multiple regression analysis, the factors had on significant effect on normal profit to total assets are fixed ratio(+), liability to total assets(-), bed occupancy rate(+), admissions of outpatients(+), etc. And the factors had on significant effect on normal profit to gross revenues are current ration(+), fixed ratio(+), personnel cost(-), administrative expenses(-), admissions of outpatients(+), etc. In conclusion, to improve the profitability of hospitals, the efforts to reduce personnel cost and average length of stay might be needed. And also beds utilization rate need to be increased.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.141-159
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of information technology application, and to identify the effect of information technology application en knowledge management process in clinical nurses. Method: Participants were 629 regular clinical nurses who had worked for over 1 year in general units of 9 tertiary medical hospitals including 2 national university hospitals, 5 university hospitals, and 2 hospitals founded by business enterprises. Data were collected from March to May 2003 through questionnaires. Thee structured instruments were used to collect the data: Information Technology Application scale, Knowledge Management Process Scale(Jeong, Lee, Lee, & Kim, 2003), and one for general characteristics. The data were analyzed using reliability analysis, descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}$ test, correlation analysis, partial correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS for Windows 10,0 program. Result: 1) The HIS application degree, IT application ability, and IT application frequency were significantly correlated with the degree of knowledge management process activation and 4 elements of knowledge management process, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Storage, Knowledge Sharing, and Knowledge Utilization(p=.000). 2) The 3 variables, HIS application degree, IT application ability, and IT application frequency explained 47.2% of the total variance of the degree of knowledge management process activation, and 352% of me total variance of Knowledge Storage. And 2 variables, HIS application degree and IT application frequency explained 17.6% of the total variance of Knowledge Creation, 39.9% of the total variance of Knowledge sharing, and 33.8% of the total variance of Knowledge utilization(p=.000). 3) As a result of multiple regression analysis, the key determinant of the degree of knowledge management process activation for nurses was HIS application degree The HIS application degree, IT application frequency, position, IT application ability, and continuous total numbers of years working at the present hospital explained 51.1% of the total variance of the degree of knowledge management process activation(p=.000). Conclusions: These results suggest that the information technology application positively affects the nurses' knowledge management process. From the above findings, information technology application is empirically verified as a useful and effective method to activate knowledge management process, and knowledge management.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.236-243
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• 2010

We examine the change in healthcare utilization pattern of cancer patients since the launch of KTX in 2004. It is found that during the year of 2004 and 2005 the rapid increase in the ratio of cancer patients' healthcare utilizations for the tertiary hospitals in Seoul to the total healthcare utilizations has accompanied the rapid decrease in the corresponding ratio for the tertiary hospitals in the local metropolitan areas under the influence of KTX while the corresponding ratio for the tertiary hospitals in the local cities with little influence of KTX on them has exhibited mild change. Since healthcare consumers' choice of hospitals can be characterized by "foot voting" action in the healthcare service market in Korea, such a phenomenon may have strong implication that the introduction of KTX may have affected substantially the inter-area healthcare utilization pattern by cancer patients by reducing various sorts of long-distance travel costs. Therefore, considering the potential contribution of KTX to the increase of cancer patients' accessibility to hospitals with higher qualities, support policies such as fare discount for low-income cancer patients in local areas may need to be taken into consideration where the well-designed fare discount program for low-income cancer patients may increase utilizations of KTX by lowincome cancer patients without incurring additional costs to running of KTX.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.408-414
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• 2011

This study was carried out to analyze the utilization of ultrasound machines in animal hospitals and focused on surveying the present condition of diagnostic ultrasound on veterinary medicine in South Korea. Total 279 veterinary hospitals were surveyed with e-mail questionnaires or telephone survey. E-mail questionnaires consist of 17 items of questions including existence of ultrasound machine, types of ultrasound machine, ultrasound examination costs, frequency, purposes, other diagnostic imaging equipments, and referring system of ultrasound. Telephone surveys asked about the existence of the ultrasound machine and types of the ultrasound machine to 279 animal hospitals. Two hundred and seventy-one out of 279 animal hospitals holds ultrasound machine. Seventy-two percents clinics purchased used ultrasonographic machines and mean years after the date of manufacture is 7.5 years and the proportion of superannuated machines are relatively high. Also many clinicians prefer single organ scanning rather than general scan technique and more than 60% of clinics perform ultrasonographic examination less than 5 times a week. Clinics located in Seoul area tend to have more expensive and brand-new ultrasonographic machines and the distribution of radiology specialist are higher in this area. Problems associated with the present condition were oversupply of machines, unequal distribution of the medical equipment in different localities, ineffective use of the medical equipment, and high percentage of old poor-quality medical equipments. There should be a viable alternative proposal to control amount and quality of the ultrasound machines. Also, the improved management system for the ultrasound machine is required.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.4-11
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• 2016

Background: Hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), which are widely used as an indicator of poor access to primary care, can be used as an efficiency indicator of healthcare use in countries providing good access to health care. Korea, which has a national health insurance (NHI) system and a good supply of health care resources, is one such country. To quantify admission rates of ACSC and identify characteristics influencing variation in Korean health care institutions. Methods: By using NHI claims data, we computed the mean ACSC admission rate for all institutions with ACSC admissions. Results: The average ACSC admission rate for 4,461 institutions was 1.45%. Hospitals and clinics with inpatient beds showed larger variations in the ACSC admission rate (0%-87.9% and 0%-99.6%, respectively) and a higher coefficient of variation (7.96 and 2.29) than general/tertiary care hospitals (0%-19.1%, 0.85). The regression analysis results indicate that the ACSC admission rate was significantly higher for hospitals than for clinics (${\beta}=0.986$, p<0.05), and for private corporate institutions than public institutions (${\beta}=0.271$, p<0.05). Conclusion: Substantial variations in ACSC admission rates could suggest the potential problem of inefficient use of healthcare resources. Since hospitals and private corporate institutions tend to increase ACSC admission rates, future health policy should focus on these types of institutions.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

Purpose: This study presents the results of the analysis on space utilization of kidney dialysis units in regional public hospitals, which plays a key role in local public medical services. The result aims to achieve safety from infection, allow comfort for the dialysis environment, and stability for medical support. The purpose of this study is to present fundamental data for architectural plans for the kidney dialysis unit, as well as to alleviate potential infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Methods: For research purposes, the investigation and analysis of space utilization were based on architectural floor plans, research papers and literature, related legal systems, and public statistics. Of the main 35 regional public hospitals, in regards to data accessibility, 15 facilities were selected to conduct the survey and analysis for the objective. Results: The space composition by area research results of kidney dialysis units in public hospitals are as follows: Firstly, most targets do not have required rooms in the access and support area, except for the hemodialysis beds in the treatment section. Secondly, the access area requires necessary room and space design that took into consideration of convenience and accessibility for patients. Thirdly, in regards to infection prevention and control, proper circulation and room plan is essential for storage and disposal of contaminated products and linen after use. For the treatment area, the arrangement plan needs to establish a visual connection between the isolation room, the nursing station, and the bed area. Additionally, consideration of circulation in the preparation, treatment, observation, examination, and all other rooms in the facility is required. Lastly, for the support area, the room is designed to consider adequate working and meeting spaces for the medical staff, consultation space for patients or guardians, separate storage and disposal of clean and contaminated items, and the storage of various equipment for dialysis. Implications: In preparation for the increase in chronic kidney failure patients and the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, the researched data demonstrates the basic guidelines for space composition of kidney dialysis units and the significant role of regional public hospitals.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 1991

The purpose of this study is to estimate cesarean section rate in Korea and analyze characteristics of health care institution which affect regional variation in the rate. We have searched vaginal and cesarean section deliveries among Diagnosis Related Group dat based upon insurance claim bills which have been submitted to Korean Insurance Corporation for two years since March, 1985. The results are as follows: 1. Out of all delivery cases of 87,500, cesarean section rate was 16.3% (14,299 cases). 2. Cesarean section rate varied according to size and ownership of health care institutions. In above 6- bed sized hospitals, the rate was at about 20% higher than small sized institutions, but rather in hospitals that have more than 500 beds, it was somewhat low. Classified by the hospital ownership, the rate was low at 18.4% in hospitals of religious organization and highest at private or corporate hospitals. 3. This study shows large regional variation in cesarean section rate; there are two times differences between region with the highest and lowest rate. Strongly related factors in that variation was the ownership of health care institution and urbanization variables. Low level of cesarean section rate in a region is explained by high proportion of delivery cases at institutions of religious organization and at insitutions in county level site. This result shows that apart from medical conditions of patients, indications of cesarean section differs from health care providers, and especially ownership of institution strongly affect them. Cesarean section rate in Korea is supposed to be at high level and development of utilization review programs to keep appropriate cesarean section rate is needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.415-427
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree and pattern of knowledge management process, and to identify the relationship between knowledge management process and organizational effectiveness in clinical nurses. Method: Participants were 665 regular clinical nurses who had worked for over 1 year in general units of 9 tertiary medical hospitals including 2 national university hospitals, 5 university hospitals, and 2 hospitals founded by business enterprises. Data were collected from March to May 2003 through questionnaires. Four structured instruments were used to collect the data: Knowledge Management Process Scale(Jeong, Lee, Lee, & Kim, 2003), cCommitment Questionnaire(Mowday, Steers, & Porter, 1979), General Satisfaction Scale(CooK, Hepworth, Wall, & Warr, 1981), and one for general characteristics. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, reliability analysis, descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, correlation analysis with the SPSS for Windows 10.0 program. Result: 1) The average score for knowledge management process in nurses was $3.08{\pm}.54$ on a 5-point Likert scale. In order from highest mean score, the elements of knowledge management process, were Knowledge $Utilization(3.35{\pm}.57)$, Knowledge $Sharing(3.07{\pm}.58)$, Knowledge $Creation(2.99{\pm}.63)$, and Knowledge $Storage(2.91{\pm}.82)$. 2) Four knowledge management patterns for nurses, which were derived from cluster analysis, were inactivate pattern, delayed pattern, activate pattern, and high-activate pattern of knowledge management. 3) The degree of knowledge management process activation and 4 elements of knowledge management process, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Storage, Knowledge Sharing, and Knowledge Utilization, were significantly correlated with nurses' organizational commitment and job satisfaction(p=.000). 4) The nurses' organizational commitment and job satisfaction showed significant differences according to the knowledge management patterns derived from cluster analysis of high-activate pattern, activate pattern, delayed pattern, inactivate pattern(p=.000). Conclusion: These results suggest that there are four knowledge management patterns for nurses, and knowledge management process positively affects the nurses' organizational commitment and job satisfaction. From the above findings, knowledge management process is empirically verified as a useful and effective method to increase organizational effectiveness, and develop the organization.