• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.148-173
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• 2000

This thesis is a kind of case report on the managerial difficulties and strategies to overcome them for the rural hospitals in Korea. We examined environmental situations and SWOT(Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) of the hospitals, and suggested some strategies to improve the hospital business through analysing secondary data and brief survey to staffs and patients at 3 case hospitals. Among the strategies were included establishment of their identity as community hospitals, positioning towards high-touch services rather than high-tech services to improve their competence. For this positioning, patient satisfaction should be emphasized to make rapport with the residents in the community, and a few service areas should be selected and strengthened. Emergency care and geriatric health services are recommended to be covered strongly, because rural hospitals are usually the one and only hospital in the region and rural communities have aged population structure. In addition to these, networking is necessary among rural hospitals nationwide and with local clinics and tertiary hospitals near urban areas. And also, complementary role division with community health post should be developed to lessen the competitive relationship between public and private sectors. To support these strategies, fresh organizational culture should be built up to make hospital staff creative and enthusiastic on their job. Finally, inducement of governmental assistance will be necessary to make the environment advantageous to the rural hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 2009

Objectives: The primary objective of the study is to analyze the utilization patterns of provincial patients discharged from hospitals located in Seoul area. Methods: For the analysis, the study employed the nationwide data on 'Survey of Injured Patients Discharged from Hospitals' conducted by KCDC (Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The statistical methodology used in the measurement model is a logistic regression model. Results: The study has three major findings. First, compared to other disease groups, the discharged on both 'neoplasm(cancer)' and 'congenital malformation, deformity and chromosomal abnormalities' disease groups are more likely to utilize hospitals in Seoul area. Second, as for 'neoplasm(cancer)' disease group, patients with 'bones and articular cartilage' areas are more likely to utilize hospitals in Seoul area. Finally, Hospitals with more than 1,000 beds was primary factor in selecting Seoul-based hospitals by the discharged in provincial areas. Conclusion: In sum, the study showed that patients in provincial areas are more likely to utilize hospitals located in Seoul area regardless of the severity of their cases. Local authority, therefore, is required to monitor local hospitals on regular basis, as well as support them to establish specialized medical centers by providing human and physical resources.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.97-110
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• 2023

Purpose: This study sought to determine the effect of the competence of nurses and their, work environment on the quality of nursing service in long-term care hospitals using the Donabedian model as a theoretical framework. Methods: This descriptive investigative study analyzed nursing competency, the work environment, and nursing service quality in a group of 182 nurses directly in charge of patient care at long-term care hospitals in special cities, metropolitan cities, and small and medium-size cities. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS/WIN 27.0 version. Results: In long-term care hospitals, nurses' competence (r=.674, p<.001) and work environment (r=.444, p<.001) were correlated with quality of nursing service, and the nurses' competence was correlated with the work environment (r=.443, p<.001). The factors affecting the quality of nursing service in long-term care hospitals were competence, the work environment, and the age of nurses. Conclusion: In this study, both competence and the work environment of nurses were observed to be important factors in improving nursing service quality in long-term care hospitals. Therefore, efforts aimed at enhancing these factors are necessary to ensure the high quality of nursing service in these hospitals.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.4-16
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• 2024

Smart hospitals involve the use of recent ICT (information and communications technology) technologies to improve healthcare access, efficiency, and effectiveness. Standardization in smart hospital technologies is crucial for interoperability, scalability, policy formulation, quality control, and maintenance. This study reviewed relevant international standards for smart hospitals and the organizations that develop them. Specific attention was paid to robotics in smart hospitals and the potential for standardization in this area. The study used online resources and existing standards to analyze technologies, standards, and practices in smart hospitals. Key technologies of smart hospitals were identified. Relevant standards from ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) were mapped to each core technology. Korea's leadership in smart hospital technology were highlighted. Approaches for standardizing smart hospitals were proposed. Finally, potential new international standard items for robotics in smart hospitals were identified and categorized by function: sampling, remote operation, delivery, disinfection, and movement tracking/contact tracing. Standardization in smart hospital technologies is crucial for ensuring interoperability, scalability, ethical use of artificial intelligence, and quality control. Implementing international standards in smart hospitals is expected to benefit individuals, healthcare institutions, nations, and industry by improving healthcare access, quality, and competitiveness.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.203-215
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• 2013

This study calculated meta Malmquist indices and their bootstraped estimates and then decomposed them into technical efficiency change(TEC), technology change(TC), pure technology catch up(PTCU), frontoer catch up(FCU), using annual data set of general hospitals from year 2007 to 2011 collected by Korean Hospital Association and then analyzed productivity change and technology gap of Korean general hospitals. The results and implications were as follows below. First, public general hospitals showed higher meta technical efficiencies than private general hospitals while exhibited lower technology gap ratio which meant a few large private general hospitals led the whole general hospitals. Second, group productivity of private general hospitals increased larger than public general hospitals due to the differences of PTCU rather than FCU. But, there was no statistically significant differences for technical efficiency, productivity change, technology gap. Thus, public general hospitals played the same role as the private general hospitals in terms of the number of patients treated. But, considering financial hardships of public general hospitals, public hospitals needed to share and learn medical and managerial skills of the best practice of private general hospitals.

• The Journal of KAIRB
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.36-41
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate how university hospital Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in Korea classify risk when reviewing clinical trial protocols. Methods: IRB experts (IRB chairman, vice chairman, IRB administrator) in the university hospitals obtaining a Human research protection program (HRPP) or IRB accreditation in Korea were asked to fill out the Google Survey from September 1, 2020 to October 10, 2020. Result: Among the 23 responder hospitals, 8 were accredited by the American Association for Human Research Protection Program (AAHRPP) and 8 were accredited by the HRPP of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Seven were accredited by Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific or Korea National Institution for Bioethics Policy. Thirteen of 23 hospitals (56.5%) had 4 levels (less than minimal, low, moderate, high risk), 4 hospitals had 3 levels (less than, slightly over, over than minimal risk), 1 hospital had 5 levels (4 levels plus required data safety monitoring board), and 1 hospital had 2 levels (less than, over than minimal risk) risk classification system. Thirteen of 23 hospitals (56.5%) had difficulty classifying the risk levels of research protocols. Fourteen hospitals (60.9%) responded that different standards among hospitals for risk level determination associated with clinical trials will affect the subject protection. Six hospitals (26.1%) responded that it will not. Three hospitals (13.0%) responded that it will affect the beginning of the clinical trial. To resolve differences in standards between hospitals, 14 hospitals (60.9%) responded that either the Korean Association of IRB or MFDS needs to provide a guideline for risk level determination in clinical trials: 5 hospitals (21.7%) responded education for IRB members and researchers is needed; 3 hospitals (13.0%) responded that difference among institutions needs to be acknowledged; and 1 hospital (4.3%) responded that there needs to be communication among IRB, investigator, and sponsor. Conclusion: After conducting a nationwide survey on how IRB in university hospital determines risk during review of clinical trials, it is reasonable to use 4-level risk classification (less than minimal, low, moderate, high risk); the most utilized method among hospitals. Moreover, personal information and conflict of interest associated with clinical trials have to be considered when reviewing clinical trial protocols.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.209-219
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• 2016

Purpose: To analyze the proportion of medical institutions meeting the legal standard for nurse staffing. Methods: Data collected from 29,282 institutions between 1996 and 2013 were analyzed. Nurse staffing was measured as daily patient census per registered nurse (RN). The standard for general hospitals, hospitals, and clinics is 2.5 or less, and that for long-term care hospitals is 6.0 or less of the daily patient census per RN. Clinics may substitute nursing assistants for RNs by 50% or 100% depending on their daily inpatient census; long-term care hospitals may substitute nursing assistants for RNs by two thirds of the required number of RNs. Results: The proportion of general hospitals, hospitals, clinics, and long-term care hospitals meeting the standards was 63%, 19%, 63%, and 94%, respectively, in 2013. While general hospitals had an increase in the proportion during the 1996-2013 period, small changes were found in hospitals and clinics. In 2013, nurses were estimated to care for 16 (interquartile range: 12~24) patients per shift in general hospitals. Three quarters of clinics had no RNs in 2013. Conclusion: Many medical institutions did not meet the legally mandated minimum staffing level. The government must implement policy actions for all medical institutions to meet the legal standards.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.172-185
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• 2001

Background : This study was carried out to assess the quality improvement(QI)activities in Korean hospitals. Methods : A mailed questionnaire survey was conducted between September 15 and October 30, 2000. The staffs being charge of QI each of the hospitals with 400 beds or more responded to the questionnaire. Of the 108 hospitals eligible for inclusion in our study, 69 participated, yielding a response rate of 63.9%. Results : Based on these survey, 87.3 percent of the responding hospitals were performing QI projects and 54 percent of the hospitals had a separate department for QI activity. About 62 percent of hospitals performing QI activity (QI hospitals) had a QI manager and 58 percent had a separate budget for QI activities. Among the QI hospitals, 85 percent had cross-functional or cross-departmental teams as the major mechanisms for doing QI projects, 94 percent had one or more educational programs on QI. The level of physician's participation level for QI projects was lower than other staff(CEO, nurses and other administrators). Conclusion : The majority of the hospitals have undertaken activities in QI. For the successful implemented QI, the involvement of and education for employees(including physicians and other health professionals)are needed as well as management strategy and leadership. Understanding of other hospitals experience would be helpful for health care managers to plan and initiate QI activities.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.64-80
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• 2003

The separation policy of prescription and drug dispensing which has been implemented since the 1st of July, 2000, has brought about great changes in patients flow within the healthcare delivery system. The changes in the patients flow, in turn, resulted in the change in the distribution of financial resources among the participating entities in the healthcare delivery system: pharmacies, clinics, small hospitals, general hospitals, and teaching hospitals. The purpose of this study is to shed some light in the change in the financial performance of teaching hospitals under the separation policy that has created environmental changes such as the decrease in the number of out patients visits, the increase in the capital expenditures, the rapid increase in labor costs and so on. For the purpose, this study has compared and analyzed the balance sheets, the income statements and other operational data of three teaching hospitals located in D area. The data include two periods: before(year 1999) and after(year 2001) the implementation of the separation policy. The analysis was conducted with an emphasis on the changes in the financial ratios such as liquidity, turnover ratio, performance ratio. and capitalization ratio. The results show that the financial performances of the hospitals under study were weaker than before the implementation of the separation policy, and that, while the operating expenses have increased remarkably, there was no tendency to corresponding increase in revenue. And the result of analysis of other operational indicators also show that the performance of the hospitals is getting worse. Based on the results, this study has suggested the directions of the healthcare policies. This study suggests to improve the current model of separation of prescription and drug dispensing, to grant subsidies for the training of residents in teaching hospitals, and to lower the rate of patients' out of porket payment in teaching hospitals.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.3 s.35
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• pp.400-413
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• 1991

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors affecting the optimum mix of required inputs and other relevant factors which account for the variation in physician's productivity in general hospitals, and to find out their implications for the efficient health planning and management. An extended version of Cobb-Douglas production function and cross sectional data of one day patient census from all general hospitals in Korea in 1988 were used in the analysis. Main results of the analysis and their implications could be summarized as follows : (1) The production function for physician's inpatient service shows the evidence of economies of scale, but the production function for physician's outpatient and adjusted-patient service, which combines both out- and in-patient service, shows that of dis-economies of scale. (2) The physician's role for production for all service is smaller than auxiliary personnel's, which imply that more intensive utilization of nurses, nursing aides and other auxiliary personnel is desirable for improving general hospital productivity (3) In case of physician's inpatient and adjusted-patient service, nurses' role is greater than nursing aides'. Therefore, more extensive utilization of nurses is recommended for the efficient operation of general hospitals. (4) The factor of hospital beds plays the leading role among required inputs in the production for physician's in- and adjusted-patient service. (5) The physician's productivity of general hospitals in rural area is lower than that in urban area. And the productivity of teaching hospitals is lower than that of the other hospitals. Further analysis was made in physician production function based upon the size of hospitals, namely those hospitals below 250 beds and those above. Explained variances by the factor of hospital beds was significantly increased in the case of those hospitals above 250. A more detailed and thorough investigation is needed for verifying factors influencing physician's productivity in general hospitals in Korea.