• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.56-71
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• 1996

Background : Review of readmissions in health care facilities is necessary from the viewpoint of both economic concerns and quality considerations. To identify the characteristics, factors, and causes of multiple admissions in comparison with single admissions is essential for both providers and payers in order to assure quality care and efficient use of medical resources. Methods: All discharges from an university hospital in 1993 were analyzed, and the characteristics of multiple admissions were identified and were compared with those of single admissions by using the data bases of the discharge abstract and billing for reimbursement. Medical records of patients readmitted within 6 days after the previous discharge were reviewed to identify the reasons for such prompt readmission. Statistical analysis between groups of patients were performed by using SPSS. Result : The mean age was higher in multiple admissions than those of single admissions, and the average length of stay was longer in multiple admissions than in single admissions. The hospital cost per day is higher in single admissions while the cost per case is higher in multiple admissions. More than half of readmissions occurred within one month after the preceding discharges. Above 15% of the readmission within 6 days after the preceding discharges seemed to have close relationship with quality of care provided during the preceding hospitalization. The death rate of the patients readmitted within 6 days was the highest in comparison with multiple admissions and single admissions. Conclusion : Potential preventable readmissions should be reduced by identifying characteristics of multiple admissions, especially unplanned readmission, and by applying some interventions such as standard predischarge assessment or careful follow-up care after discharge for high risk readmission groups. As the results of these efforts, health care facilities could achieve quality improvement in medical care, and effective use of hospital resources.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2014

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to identify interventions and to analyze the characteristics of headaches among hospitalized patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage with moderate or severe headaches. Methods: A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of 210 patients who received treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage was conducted. Data collection was done using a structured headache record sheet. Data analysis was carried out using the PASW 18.0 version program. Results: There were significant differences in number and duration of headaches of headaches according to the presence of vasospasm, increased intracranial pressure, extraventricular drainage, use of hypertonic solution, and hospitalization period (p<0.05). Patients with vasospasm and extraventricular drainage experienced the most severe headache for a duration of 3 to 7 days. Other patients experienced the most severe headache for around 1-2 days. Conclusion: Hospitalized patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage who had vasospasms experienced more headaches and the duration of these headaches were longer. In particular, the assessment and interventions for headaches should increase and be carried out actively during this time because the intensity of these headaches is severe and lasts for 3-7 days. Additionally, we emphasize the need for regular administration of analgesics in order to promote patients' well-being. On the basis of the results of this study,we suggest that evidence-based interventions for the care of headaches among hospitalized patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage should be developed.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2020

■ Objectives This case report is reported to show the effect of Ukgansan and Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang on a patient who complaining myoclonic seizure due to psychogenic non epileptic seizure, occurred after traumatic stress event. ■ Methods A female patients with myolconic seizure was treated with Ukgansan and Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang during 5 days. Then we assessed dyskinesia severity by AIMS(Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale) every two days til discharge. ■ Results Seizure decreased two days after hospitalization, then disappeared third day. There was no recurrence till discharge. When she revisited outpatients clinic, there was no symptom. ■ Conclusion This case showed the effect of Ukgansan and Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang on psychogenic epileptic seizure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.338-342
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to implement a critical pathway (CP) for patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy and describe the results before and after the CP in terms of length of hospital stay and cost. Methods : From March 2008 to February 2009, 61 patients underwent lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy due to stenosis or one- or two-level disc herniation in our department and were included in the prepathway group. After development and implementation of the CP in March 2009, 58 patients were applicable for the CP, and these were classified as the postpathway group. Results : The CP, which established a 6-day hospital stay (5 bed-days), was fulfilled by 42 patients (72.4%) in the postpathway group. The mean length of stay was 5.4 days in the postpathway group compared to 6.9 days in the prepathway group, demonstrating a 20% reduction, which was a statistically significant difference ($p{\leq}0.000$). There was a statistically significant reduction in charges for bed and nursing care (p=0.002). Conclusion : Implementation of a CP for lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy produced significant decreases in length of hospitalization and charges for bed and nursing care. We believe that this CP reduces the unnecessary use of hospital resources without increasing risk of adverse events.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 2019

Objective: In this care report, we address a case of a Parkinson's disease patient with nausea and vomiting. Methods: A patient was treated with Korean medicine therapies including herbal medication (Hyungbangjihwang-tang, Boikyangwie-tang), acupuncture, and electroacupuncture during 35 days of hospitalization. We evaluated the improvements of symptoms by checking the number of vomiting episodes and the presence of nausea. Results: During 35 days of Korean medicine treatment, there was improvement in patient's symptoms. The frequency of vomiting had decreased, and the nausea had decreased and not appeared for the last 7 days. Conclusions: This study suggested that Korean medicine therapies might be effective in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.110-123
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical pathway for the allogeneic bone marrow transplantation donor. For this study, a conceptual framework was developed through a review of the literature including six steps which are using in Jones Hopkins Hospital. USA. The researcher reviewed 129 medical re-cords of donor who had bone marrow donation between January 2002 to January 2004, to identify the overall service contents required by these patients and to make a preliminary clinical pathway. A content validity test was done for the preliminary clinical pathway, a professional group screened 51 medical re-cords and adopted with 3 hospitalization days as the clinical pathway framework. In the fifth step, clinical pathway test was also done to 7 donors from April 28th to July, 2004. After these processes the final clinical pathway was developed. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The vertical axis of the clinical pathway Includes the following 9 items: vital signs, nursing assessment, activity, diet, intervention, medication, test, consultation and patient teaching. The duration of the horizontal axis was 3days from admission to discharge 2. Analysis of the 129 medical records indicated that the average length of stay was 3 4 days. The medical performance according to the vertical axis in the preliminary clinical pathway consisted of 51 items After clinical validity test, it steel consisted of 51 items in the final form. 3. Clinical Validity test was done to 7 bone marrow donors. During these process, The first patient was deleted because he was out of the criteria the investigate set and 6 patients were used, finally The result of this study indicated all of 7 donors were discharged on expected day. 4. Clinical pathway enables to improve the quality of care, multidisciplinary team work It also helps nursing bone marrow donor, effective education to donor or medical member. The results of this study suggest that clinical pathway may be able to improve the quality of nursing care for bone marrow transplantation donors.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.83-89
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• 2002

Purpose: To analyze the postoperative functional and radiographic follow-up results in patients who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy after the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. Materials and Methods: Seven patients, who were clinically and radiographically diagnosed with osteoid osteoma from July 1999 to January 2001, and received percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy. The average follow-up period was 15.5 months(range, 8~25 months). For the diagnosis and accurate localization of the lesion, simple radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) were performed preoperatively. Simple radiographs and MRI were taken periodically for the follow-up studies. Results: In all 7 patients, symptoms completely disappeared within 3 days after the operation. The average period of hospitalization was 2.4 days, excluding 1 patient who needed an additional burn treatment. The average postoperative night and day pain scores were 1.8 and 1.3, respectively. The average vocational and recreational activity scores were 1 and 0.6, respectively. Conclusions: Satisfactory functional results were obtained with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy for the elimination of osteoid osteoma. Compared to conventional treatment, the advantages of this therapy were short hospitalization period, no internal fixation and bone graft for preventing fracture, and no limitation of joint motion by long fixation period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.6 s.251
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• pp.415-420
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• 2005

Recently the cases of varicose veins are increasing because the patients with latent disease have come to realize that they want a positive treatment. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to compare and analyze two methods the conventional phlebectomy (CP) and transiliuminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP). Material and Method: From March 200f to December 2004, 114 patients (167 legs) with varicose vein were operated in Pusan National University Hospital. A retrospective review was performed on the clinical records. We analyzed age, sex, duration of illness, chief complaints, duplex doppler findings, number of skin incisions, operative time, length of hospitalization, complications, and remnant lesions. Result: Operative time was significantly shorter in the TIPP group than CP group (for one leg $108.4\pm27.6\;min\;vs\;83_4\pm24.4\;min,\;for\;both\;legs\;184.7\pm28.4\;min\;vs\; 137.8\pm24.4\;min)$. There was signifcant statistical difference in average number of skin incisions per leg between the CP group and the TIPP group $(5.9\pm2.2\;vs\;4.2\pm1.6)$. Mean duration of hospitalization was Significantly shorter in the TIPP group than CP group $(4.4\pm1.0\;days\;vs\;5.8\pm1.9\;days)$. Complications were pain $(15.9\%)$, remnant lesion $(9.5\%)$, and ecchymosis $(4.8\%)$ in the CP group and ecchymosis $(19.6\%),\;pain\;(7.8\%),\;and\;remnant\;lesion\;(7.8\%)$ in TIPP group. Sclerotherapy or reopertaion was done for the patients who had remnant lesions. Conclusion: Transilluminated powered phlebectomy in varicose vein could reduce operative time and number of skin incisions, and almost completely removed the multiple lesions. Although there were postoperative complications such as ecclymosis, they were absorbed within 2 months and patients were satisfied. Therefore, TIPP is a more effective operative technique than conventional phlebectomy in varicose veins.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.190-199
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• 2006

Purpose: To provide basic data and to identify the risk of pressure ulcers among neurological patients in ICU. Method: The participants in the study were on 78 neurological patients in the ICU of 3 hospitals. Data were collected every other day from 24 hours after admission, for up to 40 days or until discharge. The total period of data collection was 3 months. The risk assessment scales used for pressure ulcer were the Cubbin & Jackson(1991) scale and the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel(1989) skin assessment tool. Results: There was a significant relationship between having a pressure ulcers and weight, skin condition, mental status, respiration, hygiene and hemodynamic status compared to not having a pressure ulcer. The incidence rate of the pressure ulcer was 28.2%(n=22). Of these patients the mean number of hospitalization days until pressure ulcer development was 5.2 days. The most common pressure ulcer site was the coccyx(39.3%). Based on a cut-off point of 24, 9 patients with risk scores <24 on admission also showed risk score for development of pressure ulcers, 10 patients with pressure ulcer scores ${\geq}24$ were older, hospitalized for a longer time, had low serum albumin, low hemoglobin, diabetes mellitus and surgery. Conclusion: In order to make the Cubbin & Jackson risk assessment scales more useful, there is a need to determine the reliability of the upper cut-off point 24. The result also showed a need to assess other risk factors and for early identification of at-risk patients in order to provide preventive care from admission to discharge.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2000

Purpose: The aim of this research is to examine the abnormal liver function complicated with Kawasaki disease (KD) and to analyze its clinical characteristics and complications. Methods: Ninty eight cases were diagnosed as having KD, among which thirty four cases had abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (>30 IU/L). These abnormal ALT cases were evaluated in terms of age and sex distribution, major symptoms, complications, laboratory and histopathologic findings. Results: Male to female ratio was 2.4:1 and most patients (91.2%) were under 5 years of age. Cervical lymphadenopathy was observed in 3 cases (8.8%); and recurred cases were two (5.8%). Average fever duration was 8 days; average length of hospitalization was 9 days; and average recovery period was 13 days. Immediately after admission, positive CRP was observed in 31 cases (91.2%), leukocytosis (> $10,000/mm^3$) in 26 cases (76.0%), thrombocytosis (> $450,000/mm^3$) in 7 cases (20.6%), and anemia (<10 gm/dl) in 7 cases (20.6%), respectively. GB hydrops or cholecystitis were noted in 3 cases (8.8%), abnormal ECG finding in 1 case (2.9%), coronary dilatation or aneurysm in 2 cases (5.9%). Liver biopsy was done in four cases and revealed mild infiltration of lymphocytes on the portal area and mild bile duct proliferations. Conclusion: The abnormal liver function was noted in 34.7% of KD patients, and subsided all within one month. But the liver function test should be checked closely in patients of the abnormal liver function test complicated with KD despite of its good prognosis.