• Journal of the Korean Medical Association
• /
• v.61 no.12
• /
• pp.765-775
• /
• 2018

With growing interest in novel digital healthcare devices, such as artificial intelligence (AI) software for medical diagnosis and prediction, and their potential impacts on healthcare, discussions have taken place regarding the regulatory approval, coverage, and clinical implementation of these devices. Despite their potential, 'digital exceptionalism' (i.e., skipping the rigorous clinical validation of such digital tools) is creating significant concerns for patients and healthcare stakeholders. This white paper presents the positions of the Korean Society of Radiology, a leader in medical imaging and digital medicine, on the clinical validation, regulatory approval, coverage decisions, and clinical implementation of novel digital healthcare devices, especially AI software for medical diagnosis and prediction, and explains the scientific principles underlying those positions. Mere regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration of Korea, the United States, or other countries should be distinguished from coverage decisions and widespread clinical implementation, as regulatory approval only indicates that a digital tool is allowed for use in patients, not that the device is beneficial or recommended for patient care. Coverage or widespread clinical adoption of AI software tools should require a thorough clinical validation of safety, high accuracy proven by robust external validation, documented benefits for patient outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. The Korean Society of Radiology puts patients first when considering novel digital healthcare tools, and as an impartial professional organization that follows scientific principles and evidence, strives to provide correct information to the public, make reasonable policy suggestions, and build collaborative partnerships with industry and government for the good of our patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.71-82
• /
• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study is to present the desirable model for the promotion of care coordination between Korean Medicine and Western Medicine and develope the instrument to measure the level of coordination. Moreover, we verified the validity and reliability of the developed Instrument. Method : In this study, We developed the 16 items regarding care coordination in Korean Medicine and Western Medicine by literature review and expert interviews. In addition, we verified the validity and reliability of the instrument as a methodological research. Results : We developed two factors such as 'Inter-professional activities' and 'Organizational support' as the instrument to measure the level of care coordination, and each of seven, eight total of 15 measurement items are listed. Conclusion : Since the legal permission, the level and type of care coordination and the effects of them are needed to be checked. So, the measurement instrument driven by this study has a political signification in healthcare system specially in these times. In addition, by utilizing this instrument, we propose to perform a variety of future studies on the levels of healthcare coordination and related outcomes.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.25-44
• /
• 2005

Despite of increasing importance of management in healthcare administration and demand for the professional managers in hospitals, there have been few studies on the issues of competencies and qualifications of mid-managers for effective role performance. This article uses hospital mid-managers' judgements to discuss them in Korean hospital settings. Based on 67 questionnaires completed through the mail survey, the data were analyzed by chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. The result shows that knowledge of management skills in healthcare field is the most necessary area in general. Specifically, 'problem-solving ability' is the most important competency, followed by communication and planning capabilities. The mid-managers tend to consider the hospital employment history more important than the academic level. They also present the willingness to recruit the candidates with bachelor degrees rather than those with master or Ph.D. degrees. It is suggested that the candidate with bachelor degree and hospital employment over 6 to 10 years is the most qualified for a mid-manager in hospitals. The study results presented in the paper will provide the direction to improve the educational program and also the insights toward a advising strategy for job consultation for students majored in health service administration.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2015

Purpose : Ministry of Health & Welfare started to 'Comprehensive care ward' project for patient hospitalization in order to help the economic and medical By providing comprehensive care services through professional nursing staff since 2013. Many physical environments changes are expected by providing comprehensive care services. The purpose of this study is to investigate the comprehensive care services and identify the problems of the corresponding physical environment usage. Methods : Data were collected through research, field surveys, and expert interviews to analyze and investigate the physical environment of the 'Comprehensive care ward'. Results : Physical environments changes in accordance with the comprehensive care services provided in 'Comprehensive care ward' are being only partially achieved. It have to considered not only ward environmental improvement for nursing services provided directly to the patient, but Including nurses warehousing space, work space. Implications : Comprehensive care ward project is scheduled to be operational even some wards throughout the hospital since 2018. This study is basic research for architectural planning of the future ward with comprehensive care services in public hospital.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.244-254
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This research was conducted to explore the experience of using Internet to solve health problems and to develope a grounded theory. Method: There were 15 subjects in their 30s who had experience using Internet to solve health problems for themselves and their families. Results: 114 concepts, 31 subcategories, and 9 categories were derived from the analysis by using approaches by Strauss & Corbin. Central phenomenon was "Primary healthcare information" and the core category was "Selecting ways to solve health problems". The participants' experiences were conceptualized into two perspectives: reliability of the information and tendency of preference among the sites. Conclusion: All of the processes found on Internet that solved health problems required the assistance of a health professional such as a nurse. It was judged that there are some differences in the degree of usage regarding health-related information, which was primarily in accordance with the confidence and attitude of the user with respect to Internet information. We presented a strategy that could operate with professionals and nonprofessionals. Therefore, we can be satisfied by the fact that this study suggests a complimentary nursing strategy to the healthcare on Internet.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.18-29
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study sought to ascertain and describe u-Health nurses (ubiquitous healthcare nurse, tele-nurse)' experiences working with low-income elders in Korea. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interview, focus group interviews of 6 nurses and participant observations in community places in public rental housing in the city of Seoul. The ethnographical analysis method, proposed by Spradley, was used to analyze interview data. Results: We identified two major clusters of themes on common issues and concerns experienced by nurses: "work environment" and "daily work life." In addition, ten themes and fourteen sub-themes were extracted from the field work data. Conclusion: The study provided a deeper understanding of the experiences and services of u-Health nurses in Korea, of which much remains to be understood, as the healthcare services they currently provide are limited. Moreover, its findings could empower novice nurses and expand nurse's professional knowledge and competence.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2010

Recently, the system that can eliminate discrimination and barrier to disabled, ensure the substantial independence of disabled and help participation in community of disabled is required. Therefore, the purpose of this study is 'construction of the Barrier-free environment' which members of societies included the disabled can live safely in the daily living environment. To achieve this result, this study is shown establishment and complementary direction of the policy related convenient facilities by comparing between domestic and international policy of the convenient facilities. The results of this study are as follows; Firstly, among the conflicting part between related laws and design standards shold be constantly supplemented. Secondly, policy to promote convenient in residential part is needed. Thirdly, composition of the organization that can support professional housing reconstruction is required. Fourthly, from early stage of policy making, not only opinion reflection of users but also maintenance of convenient facilities, continuous maintenance plan and making a policy for verification system is needed. Finally, when the revision of the existing policies or new policies undergo, 'Barrier-free perspective' should be considered.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.41-69
• /
• 2012

First introduced in 1977, Korean health care system reached to national coverage in short period of time never seen before in any other countries, and rated as successful system protecting the health of the public at relatively low price. However, despite those positive evaluations, some of fraudulent medical organizations or pharmacies are hindering the sound development of the national health care system with meticulous false billing exaggerating the number of patients or the days of their treatment. To prevent aforementioned nursing home fraud and false billing, the misconduct should be punished as subject to the criminal law and severally punished for fines and payments which far exceed the expected amount of illicit gains as it is basically violation of criminal fraud, other than the forced return of illicit gains based on civil laws. Furthermore, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service should strengthen and complement the fraud investigators, the review process, and the professional training to raise the detection rates. It might also want to review ways to implement whistleblower rewarding system and rewards for evidences of healthcare fraud to overcome the limits of external review.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.40-47
• /
• 2020

Because the psychophysical symptoms of hearing loss and dementia in the elderly are very similar, untrained healthcare professionals in dementia facilities can easily overlook a severity of hearing loss in their patients. The present study identifies their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on hearing loss using a survey whether they may help hearing problem of the patients with dementia. A total of 29 health-care professionals responded to the KAP survey. Also, 2 family members participated. The results showed that most of the nurses and caregivers in elderly medical welfare facilities who worked with dementia patients did not have knowledge of their hearing loss. Even the facility managers did not know how to conduct hearing tests for their patients although they did recognize that some of their patients had a hearing loss. Eventually, actual practice was not possible at this moment by the professionals. However, our respondents did have a positive attitude toward screening for hearing loss and help their patients with dementia wear hearing aids if a clinical guideline was provided. We suggest to develop clear and precise clinical guidelines of the hearing screening test for the dementia patients due to the interrelationship between dementia and hearing loss. When these guidelines apply to elderly residents in a medical welfare facility, early diagnosis and treatment of their sensory loss will help alleviate their dementia as well.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.40-47
• /
• 2020

Because the psychophysical symptoms of hearing loss and dementia in the elderly are very similar, untrained healthcare professionals in dementia facilities can easily overlook a severity of hearing loss in their patients. The present study identifies their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on hearing loss using a survey whether they may help hearing problem of the patients with dementia. A total of 29 health-care professionals responded to the KAP survey. Also, 2 family members participated. The results showed that most of the nurses and caregivers in elderly medical welfare facilities who worked with dementia patients did not have knowledge of their hearing loss. Even the facility managers did not know how to conduct hearing tests for their patients although they did recognize that some of their patients had a hearing loss. Eventually, actual practice was not possible at this moment by the professionals. However, our respondents did have a positive attitude toward screening for hearing loss and help their patients with dementia wear hearing aids if a clinical guideline was provided. We suggest to develop clear and precise clinical guidelines of the hearing screening test for the dementia patients due to the interrelationship between dementia and hearing loss. When these guidelines apply to elderly residents in a medical welfare facility, early diagnosis and treatment of their sensory loss will help alleviate their dementia as well.