• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.114-123
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• 2006

Background : Patients who were discharged from the emergency department(ED) may revisit. These patients are divided into two groups; one is expected scheduled condition, the other is unexpected condition. These patients of inappropriate revisits to the ED would be unsatisfied, difficult to make rapport and take legal action as a result of additional medical charges. The purpose of this study was to reduce inappropriate revisits to the ED with a new method which was developed by analyzing inappropriate revisits in 2002. Methods : This study was conducted in a tertiary hospital consisting of 1,278 beds. The most common cause of inappropriate revisits was the medical team's lack of explanation about a disease. Thus we decided that the effective method was to offer full explanations to patients to understand the clinical pathway of a disease. We made four types of stickers to explain most common 4 diseases in 2003. An emergency physician completed 'discharge explanation report' and explained it to patients in 2004. Results : In 2002 inappropriate revisited patients were 164, patients with four diseases were 79. During the same period of 2003, inappropriate revisited patients were 56 (-65.9%), four disease patients were 6 (-92.4%) and in 2004 inappropriate revisited patients were 52, four disease patients were 19. Causes of revisits were lack of explanation about a disease in 35 patients (44.3%) in 2003, and 5 patients (83.3%) in 2003, and 16 patients (84.2%). Conclusions : Application of 'explanation stickers' at discharge reduced inappropriate revisits from 34.5% in 2002 to 15.9% in 2003. Application of 'Discharge explanation report' by emergency physician reduced inappropriate revisits from 15.9% in 2003 to 13.5% in 2004. Reduction of inappropriate revisits elevated the quality of medical treatment, and decreased patients' dissatisfaction in ED.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2014

Background: According to the reports of the World Health Organization 20% of world population suffer from pain and 33% of them suffer to some extent that they cannot live independently. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which was conducted in the emergency department (ED) of Valiasr Hospital of Arak, Iran, in order to determine the causes of delay in prescription of analgesics and to construct a model for prediction of circumstances that aggravate oligoanalgesia. Data were collected during a period of 7 days. Results: Totally, 952 patients participated in this study. In order to reduce their pain intensity, 392 patients (42%) were treated. Physicians and nurses recorded the intensity of pain for 66.3% and 41.37% of patients, respectively. The mean (SD) of pain intensity according to visual analogue scale (VAS) was 8.7 (1.5) which reached to 4.4 (2.3) thirty minutes after analgesics prescription. Median and mean (SD) of delay time in injection of analgesics after the physician's order were 60.0 and 45.6 (63.35) minutes, respectively. The linear regression model suggested that when the attending physician was male or intern and patient was from rural areas the delay was longer. Conclusions: We propose further studies about analgesics administration based on medical guidelines in the shortest possible time and also to train physicians and nurses about pain assessment methods and analgesic prescription.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2016

Programs provided by the Korea Association of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation include Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Korean Advanced Life Support (KALS). However, programs pertinent to dental care are lacking. Since 2015, related organizations have been attempting to develop a Dental Advanced Life Support (DALS) program, which can meet the needs of the dental environment. Generally, for initial management of emergency situations, basic life support is most important. However, emergencies in young children mostly involve breathing. Therefore, physicians who treat pediatric dental patients should learn PALS. It is necessary for the physician to regularly renew training every two years to be able to immediately implement professional skills in emergency situations. In order to manage emergency situations in the pediatric dental clinic, respiratory support is most important. Therefore, mastering professional PALS, which includes respiratory care and core cases, particularly upper airway obstruction and respiratory depression caused by a respiratory control problem, would be highly desirable for a physician who treats pediatric dental patients. Regular training and renewal training every two years is absolutely necessary to be able to immediately implement professional skills in emergency situations.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the independent factors associated with the registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between January and September 2015 at the academic ED in the tertiary urban hospital. The variables examined included gender, age, address, type of insurance, history of previous psychiatric disease, suicide methods, number of previous attempts, CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale), and disposition at ED. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify factors affecting the registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program. Results: Overall, 331 suicides were investigated, 61 (18.4%) of which were registered in the post-suicide care program. Factors such as a intervention by psychiatric physician (OR: 3.287, 95%; CI: 1.207-9.624) and levels of depression by CES-D score of 16-24 (OR: 3.635; CI: 1.055-12.526) were significantly correlated with registration for the program. Conclusion: The registration rate for the community-based post suicidal care program was influenced by frequent intervention by a psychiatric physician and levels of depression by CES-D score of 16-24.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.122-131
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• 2012

Purpose: Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is clinically defined as a coma of over six hours in a head trauma victim without a focal mass lesion. The emergency physician usually resuscitates and stabilizes a comatose head trauma victim in the emergency Department. After assessment and treatment, the prognosis is very important to both the victim and the physician. The prognosis for DAI is based on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and other imaging data. We investigated the prognostic value of computed tomography (CT) and gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (GRI) for head trauma victims with DAI. Methods: Fifty-three(53) head trauma victims of DAI were enrolled in this study from 2007 to 2012. During the study period of six years, data on trauma victims were collected retrospectively. We analyzed the differences in the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) result between the CT and the GRI modalities. Results: We classified the study group by using GOS. Between the good outcome subgroup (GOS scores of 4 and 5) and the poor outcome subgroup (GOS score of 1-3), there were no statistical difference in sex, age, initial vital signs and initial GCS score. The good outcome subgroup had non-hemorrhage on CT(52%), which was correlated with good outcome and a shorter awakening time, while a larger number and a deeper location of hemorrhagic lesions on in GRI were correlated with poor outcome in DAI. Conclusion: We conclude that the existence of hemorrhagic lesions on CT, and the number and location of those lesions on GRI had good prognostic value for head trauma victims with DAI.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-69
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• 2008

Traumatic bilateral abducens nerve palsy is rare and is associated with intracranial, skull and cervical spine injuries. We report a case of bilateral abducens nerve palsy in a 40-month-old patient with a skull base fracture. The injury mechanism was associated with direct nerve injury caused by a right petrous bone fracture and indirect injury by frontal impact on the abducens nerve at the point of fixation to the petrous portion and Dorello's canal. The emergency physician should be aware of injuries and the mechanism of abducens nerve palsy in head trauma.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.319-382
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• 2008

As a withdrawing care's study, the purpose of this study is searching about withdrawing care's acceptance and circumstances through Bora-mae hospital case(chapter 1). Withdrawing life-sustaining treatment has various forms. Though the meaning of euthanasia, death with dignity, natural death, physician assisted suicide are duplicated, the meaning of those are different slightly. Firstly, this study looks about the difference of the those meaning and acceptance range(condition) by withdrawing care's forms(chapter 2). Bora-mae hospital case sentenced guilty about physician who discharged incompetent patient who was after surgery by patient's wife determination. This Bora-mae case that sentenced guilty about discharge against medical advise(DAMA) that is regarded to custom has brought intensive confliction of legal, social, medical aspect, Bora-mae hospital case has many legal problems. First, as to criminal law rule 250(murder), the problem is whether discharge and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is commission or omission. this study concluded omission(district court: omission, appeal, supreme court: commission). Because legal denounce point of discharge and medical treatment withdrawing is omission that physician who is obligatory on patient to cure. If physician's act is regarded omission, it is necessary to determine whether he has guardian status and obligation. Without guardian status and obligation, omission crime can't exist. This study decided that physician had guardian status and obligation and foundation of guardian status was pre-action or acceptance of emergency patient. Physician's medical treatment duty finished when patient(or patient's guardian) demands discharge. But when patient death is foreseen and other possible treatment does not exist, his duty of life prolonging treatment does not finish. This originate from physician's social responsibility and public status that limits patient's private liberty. This study regarded physician's action as accomplice about whether physician's discharging action is accomplice or the principal offender(district court: the principal offender, appeal, supreme court: accomplice). Though the principal offender needs criminal determination and action, there is no this common determination and functional action control of physician in Bora-mae case(chapter 3). Bora-mae hospital case partly originated from deficiency of legal, institutive system including medical security system shortage, the instruction is 1. medical security system strengthening, 2. hospital ethical committee's activity strengthening, 3. institutionalization of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, 4. acceptance of pre-decision making system, 5. sufficient persuasion of physician for patient and faithful writing of medical paper, 6. respect for patients' self-determination and rights, 7. consciousness's changing for withdrawing life-sustaining treatment and persistent education about medical ethics(chapter 4). Considering Bora-mae case, medical sector is not the dead ground of a criminal punishment. Intervention of criminal law in medical sector give rise to ill effect, that is, excess medical examination and treatment, safeguard treatment, delay of discharge from a hospital. Because sufficient guarantee of life becomes mere empty slogan under situation that impose a burden of heavy cost to family or hospital, public and systematic solution should be given(chapter 5).

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2006

Purpose: We planned to determine the diagnostic capability of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in cases of blunt abdominal injury (BAI). Methods: A retrospective analysis of FAST sheets was performed from April 2002 to December 2004. During the study period, 135 BAI patients were evaluated with FAST at the Emergency Department of Bundang CHA Hospital. Of this group, twenty-eight patients were excluded, leaving 107 patients for analysis. Abdomen CT (computerized tomography) or exploratory laparotomy confirmed the presence of hemoperitoneum. At the secondary survey, patients underwent a three-view FAST examination (LogicQ; General Electric, Waukesha, USA) by an emergency physician, followed within 2 hours by an abdomen CT or exploratory laparotomy. The FAST examination was considered positive if it demonstrated evidence of free intra-abdominal fluid. Results: There were 45 true-positive FAST examination, 57 true-negatives, 1 false-positive, and 4 false negatives (sensitivity 91.8%, specificity 98.3%, positive predictive value 97.8%, negative predictive value 93.4%). The area under the ROC curve was 0.951 for the FAST examination. Conclusion: FAST is a highly reliable method for screening patients suspected of having BAI for the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.82-88
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• 2016

Purpose: Sonongraphic examinations such as extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) are widely used in Emergency Departments. This study is designed to determine student achievement by teaching medical college students through short training. Methods: 38 participants in their 3rd year of medical school were enrolled in this study. An Emergency Medicine physician trained the students to 2 hours of theoretical training followed by 2 hours of hands on training. Results: The average age of students was $28.1{\pm}3.4$, with 21 male students. The average of pre-educational test results were $60.4{\pm}8.9$ and post-educational exam results were $80.1{\pm}14.5$ (p<0.001). The average success rate of eFAST was 87.5%. But success rate of each items were lowest in checking the hepatorenal recess and the splenorenal recess, each success rate, 65.8% and 68.4%, consecutively. The questionnaires filled out after the study showed that the students were highly interested in this education and that they found the education easy to understand. They also answered that eFAST education is necessary in the medical college curriculum. Conclusion: This study shows that eFAST can be effectively taught to students through short training.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of video communication with medical staff located at a remote location, through a communication application connected to a long term evolution (LTE) mobile communication network in a moving ambulance. Methods: In this study, we recruited patients who were transferred by mobile intensive care unit ambulance from one hospital to another. In the moving ambulance, the information of the patient was transferred to a physician using the application in real time. Recorded video files were evaluated by emergency physicians with experience in video direct medical control. Results: A total of 18 patients were evaluated, and the average score was 5.9 out of a possible 9. It was expected that applying the use of the technology to actual clinical sites would enable the sites to provide assistance. Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed the possibility of benefiting from the clinical field when using the video-audio communication application which is connected to the remote location in real time through the current LTE mobile communication network in the ambulance.