• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate toxic exposures in emergency centers with using a toxic exposure surveillance system-based report form as a preliminary study. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of toxic exposure patients who visited emergency centers from January to December 2008. Results: 3,157 patients from 11 emergency centers were enrolled. Males were involved in 47.9% of the total cases of exposure and in 60.1% of the cases of fatal exposure. Suicidal intent was the most common (61.0%) reason and most (87.4%) fatal exposures were suicidal. Pesticides were involved in 30.7% of the cases and sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics were involved in 20.5%. The substances most frequently involved in fatalities were pesticides, and a 48.4% fatality rate was recorded for paraquat exposure. Conclusion: The toxic exposure data showed the preliminary poisoning events in emergency centers. It is recommended that toxicology professionals should develop a toxic surveillance system and serial reporting should be performed.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.205-221
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• 2021

Purpose: This paper is to determine whether automatic defibrillators (AEDs) deployed across communities make a contribution to prevent death in patients with acute cardiac arrest out-of-hospital. Methods: A total of 30,179 cases of cardiac arrest investigation data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was matched to those on emergency medical statistics drawn from annual report for the 2018 Central Emergency Medical Center, and statistics from the National Statistical Office in 2018. Results: Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that availability of emergency medical resources across associated with different survival rates at emergency room after taking variability of the patient's personal characteristics and episodic situational characteristics held constant. The survival rate was 1.71 times higher for patients living in communities with more than 105 AEDs avaiable per 100,000 inhabitants than for those living in communities with less than 55 AEDs. Conclusion: The survival-related factors of patients with acute cardiac arrest that occurred out-of-hospital were found to be associated with patients' and episodic situational characteristics. The hospital stage were found to be associated with patients characteristics and episodic situational characteristics, The variability of AED available in a community has an impact on survival rate after emergency room treatment.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.301-313
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to provide foundational data for reeducation concerning prehospital emergency care in order to improve the performance of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working at 119 fire safety centers. Methods: Data were collected using a mail-in questionnaire developed by researchers from 288 subjects, who were EMTs working at 119 fire safety centers and local units in the Gwangju Metropolitan City and South Jeolla Province, from March 1, 2009 to April 31, 2009. Results: The mean score for EMTs' knowledge on drug intoxication was7.04 out of a total of 10 points. The mean score for EMT's attitude of emergency treatment performance on drug intoxication was 2.96 out of a total of 4 points. The level of EMT's knowledge is relatively high regarding prehospital care for drug intoxication. The EMT's attitude of performances demonstrated an understanding of the patients' conditions. However EMTs did not actively explain the prognosis and medical conditions for their patients. Conclusions: This research will contribute to making plans for reeducating emergency crew working at 119 fire centers so that can they have a more active attitude towards prehospital emergency medical care.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.51-59
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the health service utilization of elderly patients who visited an emergency medical center in the Gyeongbuk region and to provide basic information for the effective management of emergency medical centers. Methods : This study analyzed the characteristics of the hospital visits and the actual situation for the use of emergency medical care of 10,264 elderly patients that visited an emergency medical center in the Gyeongbuk region from January, 2014 to December, 2014. Frequency analysis and chi-square test were done in this study. Results : This study showed that there is a difference in the characteristics of health service utilization which included hospital visits, duration of hospital visits and mode of arrival to the emergency medical center according to age, gender and other characteristics. Conclusions : Providing efficient emergency services is necessary as well as establishing an emergency medical center management plan that takes into consideration the difference in health service utilization of elderly patients.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.128-146
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• 2006

The objective of this paper is to examine the proportion and characteristics of non-emergent patients at emergency departments. The observational survey was conducted using a structured form used by emergency medicine specialists or senior residents on June 7-20, 2005. 1,526 patients at ten emergency centers took part in this study. The structural form contained type of insurance, route and means of emergency department (ED) visit, triage based on the Manchester Triage Scale(MTS)-modified criteria, emergency level based on the government defined rule, type of emergency centers (Regional Emergency Medical Center; REMC, Local Emergency Medical Center; LEMC, Local Emergency Agency; LEA), as well as patient's general information. Data were analyzed using SAS statistical program(V.8.2). Descriptive analysis was performed to describe the magnitude of non-emergent patients. ${\chi}^2-analysis$ and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the nonurgent patients' characteristics. In the MTS-modified criteria, we found a 15.3% rate of non-emergent patients. This rate differed from that of non-emergent patients obtained using government's rule. In particular, there were inaccuracies in the definition of government rule on non-emergent patients, so it is necessary to apply the new government rule regarding classification of non-emergent patients. There were significant differences in the rate of non-emergent patients according to type of ED, means of ED visit, time to visit, and insurance. Non-emergent patients are more likely to visit a D-type ED(LEA having less than 20,000 patients annually), not to use ambulance, to have 'Automobile Insurance, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, or pay out-of-pocket'. Non-emergent patients tend to visit ED due to illness rather than injury. Further studies on the development' of triage scale and reexamination of the government's rule on emergency visits are required for future policy in this area.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Recently, the importance of emergency medical services has emerged, as rapid advances in urbanization and industrial development. Accordingly, the need for effective emergency medical services is increasing, and the evaluation of an emergengy medical services centers is conducted to meet these policy needs. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the structure and the process domain of the evaluation of an emergency medical services center based on the Donabedian's model and to verify the validity as an index of quality evaluation through the results. As a result of the analysis, there were some indicators that showed a different direction than expected, but generally there was a significant correlation between the structure and process domains of the evaluation of an emergency medical services center. This suggests that the process can be improved by improving the structure. In conclusion, as structure and process indicators in evaluation of an emergency medical services center show significant relationship, it can be evaluated as validity as a tool to measure the quality of emergency medical services.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2007

In Korea, Crowds, as well as more complex and larger structures, have been caused more victims in the event of fire. In that situation, EMSS should have done triage the patients according to their severity in the field, treat with standard guidelines as like advanced burn life support and transfer to appropriate facility. But in many cases, they didn't practice like that. The purpose of this study is to give basic data for proper emergency medical services by analysing EMSS of large scaled fire in Korea and suggesting some improvement methods. The improvment methods are like this ; First, developing of protocols about burn patient is needed for EMT and dispatcher. Second, Legal approval for advanced treatment is needed for EMT. Third, Fire-helicoptors are needed in Daejeon and Jeju. And Emergency Medical Helicoptors are needed in EMSS. Forth, more advanced emergency medical centers of burn must be established. Sixth, more pocket-mask and burn sheet are needed for 119 rescuer. Finally, building owners must change inflammable materials as non-inflammable materials and educate fire-prevention and first-aid to employees.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2022

Purpose: This descriptive research study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perception of the natural disaster medical system by relevant disaster medical response teams in Jeonnam region, and provide baseline data for a disaster education program based on analysis of priorities of educational demand. Methods: Online questionnaires were distributed to 200 research participants including paramedics from five fire stations in J province, 22 public health centers, two disaster base hospitals, ERU (Emergency Response Units), and DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team). The questionnaires elicited basic information about respondents, their knowledge and perception on disaster preparation and response, cooperation system, and educational and training needs. Results: The top priority items selected were: other disasters for paramedics, first aid for the rapid response team, and command system for DMAT. Conclusion: Customized education and training programs must be developed to suit each organizational need. Detailed operational guidelines must be established and with them a unified educational curriculum should be put into practice.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2021

Purpose: Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely available drug responsible for a large part of drug-induced hepatotoxicity in developed countries. Although acetaminophen overdose cases in Korea are being continuously reported, there are no reports related to the level of this drug in the patient's blood or of laboratory analysis at emergency departments (ED). This study sought to analyze the acetaminophen overdose cases at a toxicological laboratory and to survey APAP analysis services offered at select EDs. Methods: We analyzed the demographic and analytic data at a toxicological laboratory run by the National Emergency Medical Center (NMC) in 2019-2020. We surveyed the APAP laboratory service in the 38 regional emergency medical centers (EMCs) and 68 local EMCs near the toxicological laboratory. Results: We studied 175 acute poisoning cases (112 women) with positive blood APAP results (mean age 47.0±24.1 years). Suicide attempts comprised 40.0% of the cases and 30.3% APAP overdose events. In the univariate analysis, we observed that patients were significantly younger, with fewer underlying medical diseases. There were a higher number of APAP overdose events, more favorable initial mental status, more toxic quantity intake in the above treatment line group (p<0.05), In multivariate analysis, the toxic amount intake was significantly more frequent in the above treatment line group (p<0.01). Hospital APAP analysis services were available in six EMCs (3/38 regional and 3/68 local). The hospital blood APAP level reporting intervals were shorter than outside-hospital laboratory services (p<0.01, regional 7.0±3.0 vs. 40.6±27.5, local 5.3±3.1 vs. 57.9±45.1 hours). The NMC toxicological laboratory reporting interval was shorter than the other outside-hospital laboratories (p<0.01, regional 5.7±0.6 vs. 50.2±22.7 local 7.5±3.0 vs. 70.5±41.5 hours). Conclusion: Over the treatment line group, toxic amount intake was significantly more frequent. Only six of 106 EMCs have their own APAP analysis service in their hospitals.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.71-84
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the proportion of admission via the emergency room(the rest is ER) in an emergency medical center and to examine the factors related to admission. Methods : This study used 2005 National Health Insurance claims data for admitted patients of 112 hospitals having emergency medical centers in Korea. The study sample had 2,335,610 patients. The data was classified into emergency admission and non-emergency admission. To investigate the factors affecting the type of admission, the following were included as independent variables: type of health assurance_(national health insurance beneficiaries or medical aid beneficiaries), demographic characteristics_ (sex, age), cause of admission_ (disease or injury), whether an operation was performed or not, DRG severity level, the number of beds, and the location of the hospital. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test for the differences in emergency admission rates for each variables, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used for identifying the factors affecting admission type. Results : The proportion of admission via the ER accounted for 40.6% of the total admission among hospitals having emergency medical centers. The risk of admission via ER was relatively high for patients who were male, the aged, the injured, the surgical patients, the patients having more severe symptoms, and the patients admitted the hospitals located in metropolitan areas, and the patients admitted the hospitals having 300-699 beds. Medical aid patients were more likely admitted through the emergency room than health insurance patients after other variables ware adjusted. Conclusions and Discussion : We analyzed the proportion of admission via the ER for the total admission rate of hospitals having an emergency medical center in Korea. And we explored the factors related to admission via the ER. This proportion may be used as an indicator of the adequacy of medical utilization or low accessibility to hospitals of patients with low socioeconomic status.