• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2015

Objective : To use and its affecting factors of patients' outpatient treatment that have single and multiple chronic illnesses Method : We used the 2011 study by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "Report on Usage and Consumption of Korean Medicine." This report was conducted on outpatients and inpatients that visited Korean traditional medicine, from August 25th, 2011, to September 30th, 2011. Our research was based on 1729 patients with chronic diseases aged 30 and over who received outpatient treatment during the last three months. Results : There were 1365 patients with non-complex chronic diseases, while there were 364 patients with complex chronis diseases. Patients had 1 - 8 chronic diseases, and the average number (standard deviation) was 1.26 (0.59). There were statistically significant differences by sex(P<0.0001), age(p=0.0045), marriage (p=0.0060), education level(p<0.0001), income level(P=0.0063), and types of health insurance(p=0.0023). The diseases most common among patients with non-complex chronic diseases were: low back pain, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorder, frozen shoulder, side effects from motor accidents, high blood pressure, fracture, stroke, diabetes, cancer, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. The diseases most common among patients with non-complex chronic diseases were: arthritis+low back pain, low back pain+gastrointestinal disorder, low back pain+side effects from motor accidents, low back pain+frozen shoulder, arthritis+gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal disease+frozen shoulder, arthritis+low back pain+gastrointestinal disease, high blood pressure+arthritis, arthritis+low back pain+frozen shoulder, arthritis+fracture, and arthritis+side effects from motor accidents. There were statistically significant differences among the usage of medical clinics by: frequently used clinic (p<0.0001), number of treatment (p<0.0001), the cost of outpatient treatment (p=0.0073), the satisfaction rate (p=0.0171), whether the clinic is the preferred clinic (p=0.0040). In model 1, men than women, people who had local benefits instead of type 1 medical aid, and patients with complex chronic diseases were more likely to use Korean medical clinics. In model 2, men than women, people who had local benefits than people with types 1 and 2 medical aids, people who went to pharmacies and Korean medicine pharmacies than people who went to hospitals, people who went to get treatment 1-10 times than people who visited 11-20 times and more than 41 times, and people who spent less than ten thousand Korean won than people who spent 1 to 2 million Korean won, and people without complex chronic diseases were more likely to use Korean medical treatment. Conclusion : There were differences in sociodemographic characteristics and the usage of medical clinics between patients with non-complex chronic diseases and patients with complex chronic diseases. Among patients with complex chronic diseases, women, patients with types 1 and 2 medical aid, patients who used Korean medical clinics, patients who were treated 11-20 times and more than 41 times, and patients who spent 1 million to 2 million Korean won on outpatient treatment used less treatment than patients with non-complex chronic diseases. However, patients with complex chronic diseases used pharmacies and Korean medicine pharmacies more.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-40
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• 2014

Objectives: Prescriptions for Parkinson's can be dispensed at the outpatient pharmacy. In general, the treatment of Parkinson's disease requires a multitude of drugs, sometimes taken 4 to 6 times a day at specific times as prescribed by the medical practitioner. Said "time-specific therapy" is one of the major reasons of dispensing delay observed at the outpatient pharmacy. Because our establishment lacked a computerized system to support time-specific prescriptions, they were not recognized electronically. They had to be issued and dispensed manually, which required a greater amount of time than the automated process. To solve the problem, a new sig code was developed to handle time-specific prescriptions with a comprehensive automated dispensing system to support it. This study aims to create electronic programs and streamline the process to increase dispensing performance. And thus, ensure greater patient safety and dispensing accuracy within a shorter dispensing time and also increase employee satisfaction through a decreased workload. Methods: After identifying the problems caused by non-electronic prescriptions an automated system that allowed the issuance of time-specific prescriptions was developed. A new sig code was created that could be recognized by the Pharmacy electronic medical program, the label printer to group medications by administration times and the Automatic Tablet Counter(ATC) to count the grouped drugs accordingly. Result: With the new sig code, the practitioner became able to electronically select the times of drug administration while issuing the prescription. This 'time-specific prescription' can now be recognized by the pharmacy electronic medical program, the label printer and the ATC like any other prescription. Conclusion: The developed program started operating on September 2013. Although not all Parkinson's patients have been issued with the new electronic 'time-specific prescription', the overall dispensing process has become more streamlined and accurate. As the medical team continues to integrate the new system in their practice an additional decrease of the dispensing time is predicted. Future program upgrades and other new time-saving approaches are scheduled, which are expected to further increase the service quality of our outpatient pharmacy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.357-366
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• 2016

This study evaluated the standardization of the outpatient management process in several regions of South Korea. The hospital workers in the administration department of the different medical institutions that are registered with the Korean Hospital Association were surveyed. These institutions can be standard hospitals or hospitals greater in size. A summary of the research results are as follows. There was no significant correlation in their registration procedures in relation to the institution's founder, number of sickbeds, number of staff employed in the administration department, and average number of outpatients per day. On the other hand, the prepayment of medical fees occurred more frequently when the number of sickbeds was larger. In addition, there was no large difference in their appointment procedures in relation to those features. Nevertheless, the prepayment of medical fees accounted for 11.8 % of the entire payment in institutions with less than five hundred beds, while fifty percent of the payment was made in advance in larger institutions with five hundred or more beds. From this research, there was only a small difference among the institutions' outpatient management, but a notable difference was observed in their electronic data processing systems and facilities. Therefore, more financial support should be generated for the implementation of a more integrated process. As a follow-up study, to provide patients with quality medical services, it will be necessary to apply the standardized procedure to an actual medical institution and analyze the expected effect.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2004

Dentally disabled person means one who have difficulty in cooperating voluntarily with a dentist for routine dental care. Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH) Dental Clinic for Disabled has worked for them under outpatient anesthesia concept. The aim of this study was to determine the anesthetic characteristics of the patients attending for dental treatment at SNUDH Dental Clinic for Disabled in order to establish better future treatment plans. The data were drawn from the patients who visited SNUDH Dental Clinic for Disabled from January 1999 to October 2002. Total 93 dental treatments for 83 patients were enrolled in this study. Most patients had mental retardation and the conservative treatments were carried out under general anesthesia. Thiopental and vecuronium were mostly used for induction agent and neuromuscular blocker, respectively. Enflurane, with oxygen and nitrous oxide, was mostly used to maintain the anesthesia. Mean total anesthetic time was $164.4{\pm}57.2$ minutes and mean duration at the post-anesthetic care unit was $106.2{\pm}50.5$ min. Serious postoperative complications were not observed. These results showed our successful anesthetic outcomes without any severe side effect or complication and the needs of more outpatient centers for dental care for disabled.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2011

Background: There is very limited data present on smoking cessation rates in outpatient departments of pulmonology. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief smoking cessation intervention program in an outpatient department of pulmonology and identify predictors of smoking cessation failure. Methods: After a brief recommendation of smoking cessation from pulmonologists, smokers willing to quit smoking were given individual counseling and supplement drugs. Fifty smokers were included in this study and baseline characteristics, smoking history and success rate were reviewed at 3 months. Results: The mean age of the patients was $58.3{\pm}14.6$ years and the total group of patients included 3 women. The rate of smoking cessation success was 74% at 3 months, and there were no differences in age, spirometric indexes and associated diseases between the smoking cessation success and failure group. The rate of supplement drug usage was not different in both groups either. However, body weight, mean number of cigarette usage per day and nicotine dependence scores in the failure group were significantly higher than in the success group. In multivariate analysis, body weight and mean number of cigarette usage per day were significant. Two smokers with a depressive disorder failed the smoking cessation. Conclusion: A smoking cessation intervention program in the outpatient department of pulmonology showed a favorable success rate. More intensive interventions are needed to unfavorable groups which include the obese and heavy smokers.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2012

Background: Some disabled patients show insufficient cooperation during dental treatment, and general anesthesia in an outpatient setting can be successfully administered. To minimize post-anesthetic complications is an essential issue, and strict discharge protocols are required for the safety of the patients. Post-anesthetic follow-ups using telephone calls can be applied to improve the quality of the outpatient care system. The authors evaluated the post-operative condition of patients after dental treatment under general anesthesia. Methods: Total 143 patients and their caregivers included in this study. The patients received general anesthesia for dental treatment in Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Clinic for Persons with Disabilities from July, 2011 to April, 2012. Telephone calls were given to the patients or their caregivers to collect information about the patients' systemic condition and anesthesia-related complications. Results: Among 131 patients with responses of telephone calls, 87 patients (66.4%) reported no discomfort, while 44 patients (33.6%) presented post-anesthetic complications. A total of 20 patients reported mild fever, 10 patients had vomiting, and 7 patients had sore throat. Other complications included nausea, fatigue, nasal bleeding, skin sore, and body rash. Among the patients with the history of epilepsy, 63.6% showed post-anesthetic discomfort or complication (P = 0.027, ${\chi}^2$ test). Conclusions: One third of dental patients who received general anesthesia due to insufficientcooperation complained discomfort after discharged from outpatient anesthetic care.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2020

Objectives: The requirement for overnight hospital stay should be considered preoperatively according to patient-related factors, type of surgery, and anesthetic management plan. In this study, we aimed to define the major factors that influence consideration of overnight hospital stay in patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgery in an operating room (OR) of a dental hospital in an outpatient setting. Materials and Methods: The records of patients who underwent oral procedures under general anesthesia between 2014-2017 were reviewed. Results: A total of 821 patients underwent oral procedures under general anesthesia; 631 of them underwent OMF surgery in the OR of a dental hospital, and 174 of these patients were hospitalized for overnight stay. There was no significant difference in the number of patients with comorbidities between the outpatient and hospitalized patient groups (P=0.389). The duration of surgery was longer in the hospitalized patient group (105.25±57.48 vs 189.62±82.03 minutes; P<0.001). Double-jaw (n=15; 310.00±54.21 minutes) and iliac crest grafting surgeries (n=59; 211.86±61.02 minutes) had the longest durations. Patients who underwent iliac crest grafting had the highest rates of hospitalization (79%). The overall recovery period was longer in outpatients (119.40±41.60 vs 149.83±52.04; P<0.001). Conclusion: Duration of surgery was the main determinant in considering whether a patient required overnight hospital stay. However, patients with an American Society of Anesthesiology physical status score <3 may be scheduled for OMF surgery in the OR of a dental hospital in an outpatient setting regardless of duration of surgery if overnight hospital stay is planned or an extended recovery period is provided until patients meet the discharge criteria.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-80
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• 2018

Since the 1960s, the United States' (U.S.) deinstitutionalization policy has reinstated people with mental illness into communities. Unfortunately, when untreated, some people with psychiatric disorders become homeless, and some commit serious crimes during a psychological crisis. Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), also known as Kendra's Law in New York and Laura's Law in California, provides treatment, services and support to people with mental illness in the community. AOT has repeatedly been found effective and is recognized as an evidence-based practice. The response to the mental health crisis (crisis intervention) in the U.S. has also been successful in preventing worsening mental illness and related criminality and other issues. This paper provides an opportunity to create a platform from which to learn how to successfully apply the AOT and crisis intervention of the U.S. to South Korea within the cultural and societal context when establishing social services for people with mental illness in South Korea's communities.

• 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.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.88-104
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• 2002

According to the change of mandatory referral system in July 1, 2000, the effect to the medical utilization of outpatient clinic and medical income in ophthalmology of tertiary care medical institute, S Hospital in Seoul was evaluated for 6 months before(1999. 12$\sim$2000. 5) and after(2000. 12$\sim$2001. 5). The results were as follows: 1. The number of outpatients was reduced by 16.6%. The number of patient with blindness low vision, retina, glaucoma increased and that of patient with accommodation refractive error, cataract decreased. 2. The number of cataract patients was reduced by 36.6%. The major location of patient's address was changed to nearer to the hospital. The number of cataract surgery reduced in 4.1%, the waiting time reduced in 42.2%, however surgery time increased in 20.2% and number of postoperative complications increased in 11.4%. 3. The income of outpatient clinic and cataract surgery reduced. Among items of outpatient clinic income, the most increased was ocular examination and the most reduced was injection and drugs. Among items of cataract surgery income, the most increased was operation fee and the most decreased was doctor's fee. In conclusion, for the patient, due to the lowered density of outpatient population more space was provided to the patients with more severe disease entity such as blindness' low vision, retina and glaucoma. For the hospital, the need for the expansion of ophthalmology was not found, however that for creation of the special clinics dealing with more severe disease entity was found. Due to reduced income and increased need of financial investment for the equipment and manpower for the more severe disease entity, the ophthalmology of tertiary care medical institute is faced with financial disaster. It is strongly suggested that the cost of medical practice of more severe disease entity be raised to achieve the success after change of mandatory referral system in ophthalmology.