• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2023

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that people with disabilities are more likely to be impoverished and affected by excessive medical costs than people without disabilities. Public transfer income (PTI) reduces financial strain in low-income households. This study examined the impact of PTI on catastrophic health expenditures (CHE), focusing on low-income households and households with Medical Aid beneficiaries that contained people with disabilities. Methods: We constructed a panel dataset by extracting data on registered households with disabilities from the Korea Welfare Panel Study 2012-2019. We then used a generalized estimating equation model to estimate the impacts of PTI on CHE. A subgroup analysis was carried out to assess the moderating effects of family income levels and health insurance types. Results: As PTI increased, the odds ratio (OR) of CHE in households that contained people with disabilities decreased significantly (OR, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89 to 0.94; p<0.001). In particular, PTI effectively reduced the likelihood of CHE for low-income households (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.89; p<0.001) and those who received medical benefits (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.89; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the positive effect of PTI on decreasing CHE. Household income and the health insurance type were significant effect modifiers, but economic barriers seemed to persist among low-income households with non-Medical Aid beneficiaries. Federal policies or programs should consider increasing the total amount of PTI targeting low-income households with disabilities that are not covered by the Medical Aid program.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2019

Background: South Korea operates a Medical Aid (MA) program targeting selected low-income individuals to ensure medical service delivery to the disadvantaged while enhancing self-sufficiency of work-capable beneficiaries. However, as reasons behind welfare exits are diverse and do not always infer poverty relief or the provision of appropriate levels of health care services, this study aimed to investigate the association between changes in MA status and health care utilization. Methods: This study used the 2006 to 2015 National Health Insurance claims data. The impact of changes in annual MA status on health care utilization (yearly number of outpatient visits, inpatient visits, length of stay, and emergency department [ED] visits) was investigated using the generalized estimating equation model. Results: In 117,943 adult subjects aged 20 to 64, compared to the 'MA to MA' group, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed general decreases in utilization (outpatient visits: β=-3.93, p<0.0001; hospital admissions: relative risk [RR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.91; length of stay: β=-3.64, p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90). Similar patterns were found in the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (outpatient visits: β=-5.72, p<0.0001; admissions: RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.94; length of stay: β=-5.87; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88). Likewise, in 74,747 older adult subjects aged 65 or above, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed reduced levels of utilization (outpatient visits: β=-1.51; p=0.0020), as well as the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (admissions: RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.95; length of stay: β, -5.45; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.97). Conclusion: MA exit was associated with general decreases in health care utilization. Utilization patterns of individuals with experiences of receiving MA benefits should be monitored to promote the ideal use of health care services while preventing potential financial barriers present in accessing medical care.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.105-124
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• 2023

Modern society is facing an unstable environment due to unexpected accidents and hazardous situations. For example, incidents such as the collapse of the Bundang Bridge and the crushing accident in Itaewon could serve as examples. In addition to these, critical emergencies like sudden cardiac arrests and strokes frequently occur, requiring swift actions and smooth transfers to specialized medical institutions for effective responses. In response to these risks, the country has been establishing various systems to protect the lives and safety of its citizens. Among these, the 119 First Aid Activities plays a crucial role within the emergency medical system. Its goal is to promptly respond to critical emergency situations involving severe trauma patients or patients with serious illnesses, minimizing damage and safeguarding lives by swiftly transferring them to emergency medical institutions for specialized treatment. The core activity related to this is emergency rescue operations. In particular, the 119 First Aid system serves as a crucial institution responsible for the hospital transportation of emergency patients. However, rescue personnel still encounter cases of interference with their activities during their duties. Despite efforts from the police, these interference cases persist, and they share similarities with the crime of obstructing official duties. Interference with emergency activities exhibits a comparable nature to instances such as physical assaults and equipment damage against emergency medical practitioners working within the emergency medical system. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding and improvement efforts regarding the issues of interference that arise during the process of emergency medical activities, including the 119 First Aid system, are necessary. The solution to these problems is to establish and improve the conditions for obstruction of first aid activities, focusing on the "Framework Act on Firefighting" and the "Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency."

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 1977

As, in Korea, rural economy has a rapid growth and medical health care becomes more necessary for rural inhabitants, we are planning to enlarge the medical care networks and aid childbirth free of charge and perform lower cost medical care in order that more inhabitants are benefited and more available for medical care in rural society. Further, we will make it a basement of the policy to equalize benefits of medical care and medical insurance system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.222-227
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• 1991

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2010

Objectives : Getting full information from axial CT images needs experiences and knowledge. Sagittal and coronal images could give more information but we have to draw 3-dimensional images in mind with above informations. With aid of 3D reconstruction softwares, CT data are converted to visible 3D images. We tried to compare medical photographs of 15 surgical specimens from neck tumors with 3D reconstructed images of same patients. Material and Methods : Fifteen patients with neck tumors treated surgically were recruited. Medical photograph of the surgical specimens were collected for comparison. 3D reconstruction of neck CT from same patients with aid of 3D-doctor software gave 3D images of neck masses. Width and height of tumors of each photos and images from the same cases were calculated and compared statistically. Visual similarities were rated between photos and 3D images. Results : No statatistical difference were found in size between medical photos and 3D images. Visual similarity score were higher between 2 groups of images. Conclusion : 3D reconstructed images of neck mass looked alike the real photographs of excised neck mass with similar calculated sizes. It could give us reliable visual information about the mass.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.633-639
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• 2014

Recently the study about a smart health care which is combined IT with BT to provide a variety of health care services are being actively investigated. In order to provide the best possible emergency medical services in a short period of time, it is necessary that the rapid emergency measures in the event of an emergency essential. In this paper, we propose an emergency medical service platform to take effective first aid to person who has a NFC tag or NFC-enabled mobile smart phones in an accident. Using NFC, it is possible to help without physical contact to the patient unconscious to emergency incidents such as falling down in everyday life. In this paper, we design and implement an mobile emergency medical system that can deliver first aid information ask for help in case of emergency.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.42-56
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• 2003

This research made a survey to 119 EMT laying stress on general contents connected with job in a frame of mutually organic cooperation system between the processes, composing Emergency Medical Care Transportation Policy in Korea, as a step before hospital, of happening emergency patients, 119 first-aid service of the spot, transportation of patients, construction of communication network etc.. As a result of analysis to that, it is found that there must be systematic devices which makes EMT not to be caught on medical dispute, a modernization of emergency equipments, professional first-aid agents, a proper personnel arrangement. Consequently, it suggests policy plan focusing on structural and functional aspect to improve an Emergency Medical Care Transportation system into a realistic one.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the awareness and direction of paramedics work and image in hospitals. Methods: From April 16 to May 5, 2015, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 45 paramedics and 81 nurses working in emergency medical institutions. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The work of paramedics is evaluated to be highly worthy at the in-hospital level rather than at the injury first-aid treatment level. It appears that paramedics are often forced to do what their hospitals tell them to do concerning matters related to conflicts with them and nurses. Paramedics stated that they experienced greater mental stress than those engaging in other professions, a finding similar to those of other studies. There was no statistically significant difference in opinions between the two groups about a desirable direction for the development of first-aid services at hospitals. More than two thirds of the respondents said that paramedics should be given the right to enter acting check for patients. Conclusion: Paramedics work is shown to differ in the opinions of paramedics themselves and nurses. Paramedics need for reform is associated with expanding the work of the law.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to analysis of the pitch and yaw deviations with or without using an aid-pillow for the head and neck cancer on the TomoTherapy. A total of 14 head and neck patients were selected to without-group (n=7) and with-group (n=7). A total of 333 MVCT image sets used to evaluate the translational (lateral, longitudinal and vertical) and rotational adjustments (pitch, roll and yaw) with 153 and 180 MVCT image sets at without- and with-group, respectively. Deviations of without- and with-groups were $0.12^{\circ}$ and $0.09^{\circ}$, respectively at pitch. And, deviations without- and with-groups were $0.47^{\circ}$ and $0.17^{\circ}$, respectively at yaw. In generally, with-group had reduced than without-group for the pitch and yaw deviations. Therefore, using an aid-pillow, it will able to increase the reproducibility of treatment for the head and neck cancer patients on the TomoTherapy.