• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.43-62
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• 2010

This study provides an evidence on the determinants of the profitability of university hospital by analyzing university hospital-level data set of hospital performance during the year 2007 (32 university hospitals in total). For the study, a multiple regression model is employed in which profitability index obtained from the DEA computations, operating margin to total asset and gross revenue are used as the dependent variables, and a number of hospital operating characteristics are chosen as the independent variables such as ownership type, location, bed size, period of establishment, bed occupancy rate, admission ratio of outpatients, patients per medical specialist, personnel cost per patient, liabilities to total assets, current ratio, fixed ratio, total asset turnover, medical assistance rate and public indicator. First, the results indicate that the bed occupancy rate and liabilities to total assets are positively and significantly associated with operating margin to total asset. Second, number of beds, the bed occupancy rate and number of patients per medical specialist are positively and significantly associated with operating margin to gross revenue. Third, the bed occupancy rate, number of patients per medical specialist, liabilities to total assets, total asset turnover are positively and significantly associated with profitability index revealed from DEA.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2009

In order to analyze possible effects of senior hospital selection factors and service satisfaction on senior hospital patients' revisit of senior hospital, this study surveyed guardians of total 204 patients hospitalized in major 4 senior hospitals in Busan. As a result, this study came to the following conclusions: First, it was found that guardians considered appropriateness of medical treatment cost as the biggest factor of choice, which was followed by kindness of doctor and hospital employees, locational accessibility (traffic convenience), and doctor's medical capacity. Second, the factor analysis about patients' satisfaction showed that the influential factors consisted of satisfaction at medical staffs, satisfaction at nursing and care, and satisfaction at facilities. Third, there was not significant difference in the overall impression of hospital and the intention of revisit depending upon sociological variables. Fourth, satisfaction at nursing and care and satisfaction at facilities had significant effects on better satisfaction at overall impression of hospital, and it was noted that the shorter admission period and the less complaint led to the higher intention of revisit. Therefore, it is necessary to improve satisfaction at medical staffs, nursing and care, and facilities rather than patients' own sociological characteristics.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.100-124
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• 1997

In order to suggest the strategies for participation in the PPS(Prospective Payment System), analyses were performed based on variations in utilization pattern and changes in revenues of hospitals in 10 selected KDRGs. The data was collected from the claims data of a tertiary hospital in Kyunggido from September 1, 1995 to August 31, 1996. The studies consisted of 1, 718 inpatients diagnosed for lens procedures, tonsilectomy &/or adenoidectomy, appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, Cesarean section, or vaginal delivery without any complications. The resources used in each KDRG were measured including average length of stay, total charges, number of orders, intensity of medical services, frequencies of medical services, the rate of non-reimbursable charges, and the rate of non-reimbursable orders. Then, the changes in hopital revenues due to the composition of medical fee schedules under the PPS were estimated as follows: 1) The variations in average lenght of stay, total charges, number of orders, the intensity of medical services, the frequency of medical services, the rate of non-reimbursable charges, and the rate of non-reimbursable orders among the 10 KDRGs were comparatively small. 2) The average lenght of stay was the longest(6.0 days) for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, while it was the shortest(2.1 days) for two vaginal deliveries. Statistically differences existed in the average length of stay among physicians and among the dates of admission in several KDRGs. 3) The total charges were the highest for lens procedures(1, 716, 000 won), while the lowest charges were for two vaginal deliveries(558, 000 won). Statistically differences in the total charges were found among physicians in several KDRGs: however, there were no differences with the dates of admission. 4) The number of orders was the greatest(155) for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis, while it was the smallest(75) for the two vaginal deliveries. Statistical differences in the number of orders did not exist among physicians in the KDRGs. 5) Significant differences were found in the intensity of medical services, and in the frequency of medical services among physicians in the KDRGs. 6) The rate of non-reimbursable charges for each KDRG was not related to the rate of non-reimbursable orders. The rate of non-reimbursable orders was the highest(36.0%) for lens procedures, while the lowest rate(11.6%) was for appendectomy with complicated principal diagnosis. The rate of non-reimbursable charges was the highest(39.4-39.7%) for vaginal deliveries, while the lowest rate(13.1%) was for tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy(<17 ages). 7) If the physician's practicing style were not change under the PPS, the hospital revenuses could be increased by 10%, and the portion of patient payment could be decreased by 1.4-22.4%. However, the non-reimbursable charges for showed little change between two reimbursement systems. Based upon the above findings, this hospital could be eligible for participation in the PPS(Prospective Payment Systm). However, the process of diagnosis and treatment should be standardized, inentifying methods to reduce cost and to assure quality of medical care. Furthermore, consideration should be given to finding ways to increase patient volume.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.93-111
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• 1975

As the hospitalized patients will be facing new stress situation due to change of his environment from home to hospital it will be very important to understand the psychological stress experienced by hospital patients not only for helping patients in the process of recovery from illness but also fulfil1ing the objective of comprehensive nursing care by understanding the needs of the patients. There is no doubt that it would be very helpful for treatment of patients as well as for improvement of nursing care if we know more about psychological needs of patients and give them adequate support to meet these needs. The study to find out the causes and degree of stress events experienced by hospitalized patients, with the objective of instituting improvement of nursing care program based on the needs of patients, was conducted during the month of September 1974 with 60 patients randomly selected from those admitted to medical and surgical wards at Yonsei Medical Center in that period The questionnaire form included 36 questions which are considered to be stress events for hospital patients, and was devide into five areas namely, such events related to 1) disease itself, 2) hospital environment, 3) nursing care and treatment, 4) communication and human relations, and 5) family and economic problems. The results of the study were as follows: 1. It was confirmed that hospitalization considered to be a stress producing factor and most patients perceived the admission to hospital as a stress factor. 2. According to the rating scale, it was found that degree of perceived stress shows a variation according to the source of stress producing event. 3. No significant differences in the mean values were observed statistically with the perceived stress levels according to demographic and other variables of patients related to hospitalization. 4. Among the questions related to disease itself, "Admission for surgery" was perceived most frequently as a stress event (97.14%) by patients. 5. With regard to the questions related to hospital environment, "death of the patient room-mate" was the most serious stress event perceived by patients (90%) and "living with hospital regulations"was considered to be less serious stress event (23.33%). 6. As for the questions related to nursing care and treatment, "limitation of freedom" was perceived as a stress factor most frequently (70.91%) by the patients and "worry for wrong treatment" turned out to be less frequent stress event (50.0%). 7. As for the questions related to communication and human relations, "difficulty to meet doctors when wanted"appeared to be the most frequent stress event by the respondents (75.86%) , followed by "no explanation about treatment or examination"(75.0%) and "no explanation about nursing care procedures"(71.66%). 8. With regard 111 tile questions related to family and economic problems, "inadequate finances for family living due to hospitalization"and "high cost of hospitalization" were the most frequent cause of stress mentioned by the patients. (80.0%). 9. As a result of application of the stepwise regression analysis, it was found that about 89% was explained by those events associated with disease itself, hospital environment and family and economic problems. By adding those events related to "nursing care and treatment" and "communication and human relation", 100% of stress associated with hospitalization was explained.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.195-218
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• 2017

The increase in medical expenses for convalescent hospitals is increasing abnormally, which puts enormous burden on the National health insurance finances. This is a phenomenon that has been associated with the social phenomenon of rapid aging. The fact that the convalescent hospitals are paid the fixed amount per day for hospitalization became the incentive for some hospitals to use the patients as means of making money. And these hospitals intend to get regular care or take medicines at other hospitals in order to reduce medical expenses, even when the medical fee is paid. In order to prevent such financial leaks, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service adjusted the patient group for inpatients in a hospital with the above behavior, and then cut the cost of medical care benefits. However, Above decision was canceled by the court on the grounds that there was no basis rule. However, based on the above case, I think that it can be an opportunity to draw up the problem and to improve of the Medical Fee System of hospital. The modified medical fee system can strengthen the medical function of the convalescent hospital. In addition, it seems reasonable to exclude admission for "physically disabled group". Even if admission is allowed for the physically disabled group due to social needs, it should be excluded from the National health insurance for the fianacial soundness and the sustainability of the system.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.66-80
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• 1998

With the opening of healthcare market, the health care environment in Korea is anticipating a drastic change. In this Internationally open market environment, it is necessary to introduce a systematic health care plan and DRG system which offer qualitative medical services as well as reduced cost. Purpose of this study is to develop and test the critical pathway for Cesarean section patient in the way to be possible the integrated inpatient management. It was adopted the process of six phases to develop the critical pathway as the theoretical framework implemented by Johns Hopkins Hospital, Maryland, U.S.A. In the first phase, make a selection of diagnosis/procedures to develop. In the second phase, organize a development team consisted of eight expertises working in maternity nursing area. In the third phase, analyze the overall medical service offered to patient through review medical records and decided the service content and the implementation period for the Cesarean section patient. In the forth phase, make out a preliminary critical pathway after verification of expert group on content validity. In the fifth phase, validity operate to ten Cesarean section patients to test implementation in practice by using the preliminary critical pathway, In the sixth phase, defined the final critical pathway. The result of this study was as follows. 1. There were classified 8 categories as monitoring/assesment, treatment, medication, activity, diet, test, consult, education/discharge plan for vertical axis and showed hospital stayed from admission to discharge for horizontal axis of critical pathway through analysis 68 Cesarean section patients medical records. 2. After critical review 68 medical records to make out a preliminary critical pathway, hospital stays for horizontal axis were showed 6 days, mean hospital stays were 7.5 days, 2.1 days were to be taken operation after admission and 4.2 days were stayed until discharge after operation. 3. After making out a questionare in 90 items of a medical service content of eight categories and verifying the content validity of expertises, the 85 items of the preliminary critical pathway were selected by expertises agreement over 88% and modified or deleted 5 items showing agreement below 75%. 4. After verifying a validity to 10 patients for 4 weeks, hospital stays were 5.9 days. There were deleted 1 item and modified or supplemented the 9 items of the 10 items.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.295-299
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• 2008

Objectives : The Korean government in January 2006 instigated an exemption policy for hospitalized children under the age of six years old. This study examines how this policy affected the utilization of medical care in Korea. Methods : A total of 1,513,797 claim records from the Health Insurance Review Agency were analyzed by complete enumeration methods. The changes of medical utilization were compared from 2005 to 2006. In addition, the changes of medical utilization between 2004 and 2005 were compared as a pseudo-control group. Results : The admission rate increased 1.14-fold from 15.20% in 2004 to 17.32% in 2005, and this further increased 1.08-fold to 18.65% in 2006. The increase of patients with a common cold (1.2-fold) was higher than that of both the general patients (1.08-fold) and the patients, with the top 10 fatal diseases (0.91-fold). The average length of stay per case for clinics showed the highest increase rates (1.06-fold). The rates of patients with the common cold showed a higher increase (1.05-fold) than that of the general patients. The average medical expense per case was increased by 1.10-fold from 2005 to 2006, which was higher than that from 2004 to 2005 (1.04-fold). The increase rate for patients with the common cold was higher at 1.18-fold than that of the general patients. Conclusions : The cost exemption policy has especially led to an increase in the utilization of clinics and the utilization by patients with a common cold.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.324-332
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• 2016

Objectives: The annual average of PM10 in Seoul was $45{\mu}/m^3$, which surpasses the WHO annual guidelines ($20{\mu}/m^3$). Most previous analyses of the effects of PM exposure have been retrospective studies using single hospital data, and fewer studies have attempted to address the relationship of PM10 and hospital costs. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the concentration of PM10 on hospital visits, admissions and hospital costs in patients with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: Medical data from the National Health Insurance Service and the monthly average of PM10 from National Institute of Environmental Research were used to identify the effects of PM10 on hospital visits, admissions and hospital costs. We applied Poisson regression and linear regression to perform the analysis. Results: The relative risks for admissions per $10{\mu}/m^3$ increase in PM10 were 23.11%, 10.2% and 6.9% increases for acute bronchiolitis, asthma and bronchitis, respectively. The relative risk for hospital visits per $10{\mu}/m^3$ increase in PM10 were 10.4%, 6.7% and 5.9% for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and chronic sinusitis, respectively. For cardiovascular disease, the relative risk for admissions per $10{\mu}/m^3$ increase in PM10 were 2.2% and 2.1% increases in angina and acute myocardial infarction, respectively. A $10{\mu}/m^3$ increase in the monthly average of PM10 corresponded to 170,723,000 won (95% CI: 125,587,000-215,860,000 won), 123,636,000 won (95% CI: 47,784,000-199,487,000 won) and 78,571,000 won (95% CI: 29,062,000-128,081,000 won) increases in hospital costs for asthma, acute tonsillitis and chronic sinusitis, respectively. Conclusion: Hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular disease were associated with PM10 levels. PM10 exposure is also associated with increased costs for respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2010

Objectives: The Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) payment system, which has been mplemented in Korea since 1997, is based on voluntary participation. Hence, the positive impact of this system depends on the participation of physicians. This study examined the factors determining participation of Korean obstetrics & gynecology (OBGYN) clinics in the DRG-based payment system. Methods: The demographic information, practice-related variables of OBGYN clinics and participation information in the DRG-based payment system were acquired from the nationwide data from 2002 to 2007 produced by the National Health Insurance Corporation and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. The subjects were 336 OBGYN clinics consisting of 43 DRG clinics that had maintained their participation in 2003-2007 and 293 no-DRG (fee-for-service) clinics that had never been a DRG clinic during the same period. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the factors associated with the participation of OBGYN clinics in the DRG-based payment system. Results: The factors affecting participation of OBGYN clinics in the DRG-based payment system were as follows (p<0.05): (1) a larger number of caesarian section (c/sec) claims, (2) higher cost of a c/sec, (3) less variation in the price of a c/sec, (4) fewer days of admission for a c/sec, and (5) younger pregnant women undergoing a c/sec. Conclusions: These results suggest that OBGYN clinics with an economic practice pattern under a fee-for-service system are more likely to participate in the DRG-based payment system. Therefore, to ensure adequate participation of physicians, a payment system with a stronger financial incentive might be more suitable in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 2003

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) may increase hospital admission, morbidity and mortality and adding extra cost to healthcare expenditures. AIMS: This study was performed to identify the types of ADR being reported in a tertiary hospital, and to find out the ways to improve current ADR monitoring system. To investigate the attitudes of hospital pharmacists towards, and their understanding of ADR reporting. METHODS: Of 117 reports submitted to the pharmacy department during 3 months survey period, A questionnaire survey of 75 randomly selected hospital pharmacists was conducted. RESULT: Of the report was from patients aged between 60 and 70. The medical department with the high frequency in ADR reporting was Internal Medicines $(60\%)$. The most common ADR manifestations were gastrointestinal complaints $(47.8\%)\;and\;80\%$ of the reported cases were mild in their severity. The most common drugs suspected of causing ADR were CNS drugs which accounted for $38.4\%.\;55.5\%$ of respondent were aware of the need to education and information about ADR monitoring. The important reasons for unreporting ADR were unknown of how to report ADRs $(94.6\%)$. CONCLUSIONS: An ADR reporting system based on reporting by staff pharmacists has been effective increasing the number of reported reactions and pharmacist involvement in monitoring patients for ADRs. Pharmacists have the knowledge and responsibility to contribute to ADR reporting program. A great opportunity exists for pharmacists to contribute in this area of patient care.