• Health Policy and Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.191-210
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• 1996

This study purported to acquire information necessary to improve the operational efficiency of general hospitals. It tried to determine major indices which represent managerial performance of general hospitals and to identify the managerial characteristics of general hospital which affect the major financial indices. 201 hospitals which were subject to standardization audit by the Korean Hospital Association were investigated and 80 hospitals were finally chosen for this study. Their financial and managerial data during the period between January 1991 and December 1991 were collected. Considering financial indices in this study were the ration of net income to total asset, income growth rate, and quick ration. The results of study are summarized as followings. First. The ration of net income to total assets and quick ration were highly related to managerial characteristics of general hospitals. Therefore, the standardization of three financial indices should be needed to systematically check the operational efficiency of general hospitals. Second, the sample hospitals can be classified as four groups on the basis of their financial indices' level. 4 of those hospitals(5.0%) showed high level of performance in terms of three financial indices and 27 of them(33.7%) showed that they are highly related to only two financial indices. 34 hospitals(42.5%) showed they have high level of relationship with only one indices and 15 hospitals(18.8%) showed very weak performance level with three indices. In addition, there is no hospitals to show mid-range level of managerial performance in relation to all three financial indices. Third, there is no significant relationship between three financial indices and the managerial characteristics of hospitals such as the number of beds, type of operation, location of hospitals, and etc. However, in the case of hospitals which have high level of managerial performance, they have more specialists and medical support personnel in comparison to low performance hospitals. They also have high level of bed occupancy rate and average length of stay(ALOS). In conclusion, the study showed the standardization of 3 financial indices are necessary to systematically evaluate the managerial performance of general hospitals and provide more accurate operational information for each hospital. To do so, it is necessary to focus on management side of hospital such as the effective human resource management and quality enhancement of medical treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.337-350
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and dietary quality in low-income elderly individuals residing at home (LH) or in health care facilities (LHCF) with dietitian. This study was conducted via anthropometric measurements, questionnaire interviews, and dietary surveys using a 24 hr recall method with 120 low-income elderly individuals (LHCF=46, LH=74). The average ages of the LH and LHCF group were 76.3 years and 78.6 years, respectively. The LH group evidenced a significantly higher frequency of skipping meals than the LHCF group. The average energy intakes of the LHCF and LH group were 1921.0 kcal and 1443.9 kcal, with a significant difference (p<0.001). Most of the nutrient intake and intake rates for recommended intake were significantly higher among the LHCF group as compared with the LH group. The LHCF group showed significantly higher values for the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), the mean adequacy ratio (MAR), nutrient density (ND), and the index of nutritional quality (INQ) by dietary qualitative estimation than in the LH group. The Korean diet diversity scores (KDDS) were 3.66 for LH group and 4.93 for the LHCF group, thus were significantly higher in the LHCF group than in the LH group. The results of the present study demonstrate that the LH group appeared to experience more dietary problems than the LHCF group. It was suggested that nutritional education is needed for low-income elderly individuals living at home, in order for them to learn proper dietary management. This can be achieved via educational programs in social welfare institutions, incentives toward employment as a dietitian, and implementation of community-based support.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to estimate incomes and costs of the medical clinics by using secondary data. Methodology: The medical incomes and costs were estimated from 405 clinics operated by sole practitioner providing out-patient services among all clinics subject to the Medical Cost Survey on National Health Insurance Patients in 2017, excluding dental clinics and oriental medical clinics. The incomes and costs of the medical clinics were reflected with incomes and costs of health insurance benefits and were calculated by types of medical services (i.e., basic care, surgery, general treatment, functional test, specimen test and imaging test). The costs were classified as follows: labor costs, equipment costs, material costs and overhead costs. Secondary data was used to estimate the incomes and costs of the medical clinics. For allocation bases for costs for each type of the medical service, the ratio of revenue from health insurance benefits by types of medical services was applied. However, labor costs were calculated with the activity ratio by types of medical services and occupations, using clinical expert panel data. Finding: The percentage of health insurance income for all medical income was 73.1%. The health insurance cost per clinic was 401,864 thousand won. Labor cost accounted for the largest portion of the health insurance income was 191,229 thousand won (47.6%), followed by management cost was 170,018 thousand won (42.3%), materials cost was 35,434 thousand won (8.8%), and equipment costs was 5,183 thousand won (1.3%). Practical Implications: This study suggests a method of estimating incomes and costs of medical clinic services by using secondary data. It could efficiently provide incomes and costs to assess an appropriate level of the health insurance fee to the clinics.

• Journal of Consumption Culture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.93-118
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a householder's working type on household saving from the perspective of precautionary saving behavior theory and the determinants of household saving by householder's working type. The data for this study was from the 2009 year of the Korea Welfare Panel Survey (KOWEPS), consisting of 2,463 households with householders whose working type was regular or non-regular employment(temporary, daily or public work). OLS regression analyses and Chow-tests were performed. In the regression analyses, the dependent variables for household saving were precautionary saving and precautionary asset. Precautionary saving was operationalized with the amount of average monthly saving and the ratio of average monthly saving to average monthly disposable income, and precautionary asset was operationalized with the amount of financial assets and the ratio of financial assets to net assets. The independent variables were household income, household assets, householder's working type(regular, non-regular), householder's age, sex, education level and marriage status, income level, the number of household members, housing type, debt, and public transfer income. Monthly average total consumption expenditures for household income, and net assets for household assets, the existence of spouse for marriage status, poverty for income level were used. Public transfer income was classified into three, social insurance, basic assistance and government assistance. For the analyses, Stata 11.0 version was used. The results are as follows: Householder's working type was significantly related to the precautionary saving behavior of a household. However, the precautionary saving and the precautionary asset of a household with a householder in non-regular working type was lower than those of a household with a householder in regular working type. This result is not consistent with the expectation from the perspective of precautionary saving behavior that the saving of a household with a householder in non-regular working type is expected to be higher than that of a household with a householder in regular working type. According to the analyses of the determinants for precautionary saving behavior by householder's working type, monthly average total consumption expenditures, debt, net assets, poverty, the number of household members, basic assistance were statistically significant variables. The positive relation of basic assistance to precautionary saving(the amount of average monthly saving and the ratio of average monthly saving)is a noteworthy result in the analyses of the determinants for household saving by householder's working type. The above results suggest the followings. First, it is easy to predict the unstability of economic life of a household with a householder in non-regular working type because of relatively low precautionary saving and precautionary asset. The reason for the low precautionary saving and the low precautionary asset may be a low current income of the household in spite of its willingness to save. If this reasoning is possible, it suggests that policies are needed for households with householders in non-regular working type to save. Second, the relatively low precautionary saving and precautionary asset of a household with a householder in non-regular working type suggest also their long-term economic stability. This suggests they need to try a long-term financial planning even though they have limitations to save for future because of their low current income. It is necessary to develop the financial planning for the households with unstable incomes. Third, the determinants for precautionary saving behavior by householder's working type were mostly the ones which reflect the economic condition of a household. This suggests that the economic condition of a household is a core factor for household saving. Consequently, it emphasizes the efforts for a household to acquire the adequate level of income for saving. Forth, the positive relation of basic assistance to precautionary saving(the amount of average monthly saving and the ratio of average monthly saving) suggests the possibility for a household to accumulate the precautionary saving and the precautionary asset in the channel of basic assistance.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.125-143
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of households with a negative cash flow. The Household Budget Survey conducted in 2000, 2005, and 2010 by the Bureau of Statistics in South Korea were used for this study. The households used in this study were divided into four groups according to their income levels; they were categorized the lowest, low, middle, and high income groups. This study made several findings regarding households with a negative/positive cash flow. Firstly, the demographic and economic characteristics were different between those who have a negative cash flow and those with a positive cash flow. A female household head, a household head age 65 and older, a household head with a lower educational attainment, an unemployed household head, and the presence of a child/children in schools were related with the household deficit. Secondly, the households with a positive cash flow had a higher income level compared to the households with a negative cash flow, while the households with a negative cash flow had a much higher consumption level compared to the households with a positive cash flow. Thirdly, the household deficit to total income ratio of the lowest income group was higher when compared to any other income group. Lastly, the multivariate statistics showed that households including a child/children in schools are more likely to be a household with a negative cash flow. Especially, the expenditures on education and transportation were related with the likelihood of a household deficit.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2023

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that people with disabilities are more likely to be impoverished and affected by excessive medical costs than people without disabilities. Public transfer income (PTI) reduces financial strain in low-income households. This study examined the impact of PTI on catastrophic health expenditures (CHE), focusing on low-income households and households with Medical Aid beneficiaries that contained people with disabilities. Methods: We constructed a panel dataset by extracting data on registered households with disabilities from the Korea Welfare Panel Study 2012-2019. We then used a generalized estimating equation model to estimate the impacts of PTI on CHE. A subgroup analysis was carried out to assess the moderating effects of family income levels and health insurance types. Results: As PTI increased, the odds ratio (OR) of CHE in households that contained people with disabilities decreased significantly (OR, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89 to 0.94; p<0.001). In particular, PTI effectively reduced the likelihood of CHE for low-income households (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.89; p<0.001) and those who received medical benefits (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.89; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the positive effect of PTI on decreasing CHE. Household income and the health insurance type were significant effect modifiers, but economic barriers seemed to persist among low-income households with non-Medical Aid beneficiaries. Federal policies or programs should consider increasing the total amount of PTI targeting low-income households with disabilities that are not covered by the Medical Aid program.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.369-378
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was carried out for the purpose of obtaining basic data necessary for developing the future oral health promotion program of the elderly by surveying the actual condition of managing dental prosthesis in the elderly. Methods: It collected materials targeting 346 elderly brackets in over 65 years old who dwell in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province for about 10 months from September 2010 to June 2011, analyzed 312 copies except 34 copies, which are inappropriate for data processing due to being insufficient in response among these things, and obtained the following results. Results: In the actual condition of missing tooth, a case of missing tooth was indicated to be 78.8%. In case of missing tooth, the number of missing teeth was indicated to be 75.6% for under 5 pieces and 19.1% for over 21 pieces. In the actual condition of managing prosthesis, a case with dental prosthesis treatment was indicated to be 77.6%. A kind of prosthesis was indicated to be the highest in fixed partial dentures with 36.5%. In a method of rinsing dentures, 47.7% of the elderly responded as saying of washing it out with water. The appearance of removing dentures at night was indicated to be the highest in doing so with 63.1%. Satisfaction with prosthesis of being mounted now was indicated to be moderate with 50.4%. As for the appearance of having experience of education on how to manage prosthesis, it was indicated to be high with 50.4% in having none. In a kind of prosthesis depending on averagely monthly income, the ratio of total dentures was high when averagely monthly income is low. On the other hand, a case with high income was indicated to have high ratio in implants. The satisfaction with prosthesis was low when averagely monthly income is low. Also, in the experience of education on how to manage prosthesis, the ratio of responses as saying of having no experience of education on how to manage prosthesis was indicated to be high when averagely monthly income is low. Conclusion: Examining the above results, a developmental plan is considered to be necessary such as developing continuous and systematic oral health promotion program for managing elderly people's managing dental prothesis.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2014

This study was conducted to analyze if there is a difference between the head hospital and branch hospital by comparing the profitability and operating expenses to patient revenue of oriental medicine hospitals affiliated with universities in order to find whether opening branch hospitals is an appropriate method to increase profitability. Profit indices used for the comparison of head hospital and branch hospital include ratio of operating profit on medical revenue, net-income on medical revenue, net profit to total assets, and operating profit to total assets; and cost indices included ratio of labor costs, material costs and administrative costs. In comparison of profit indices of head hospitals and branch hospitals, head hospitals displayed negative(-) in all four profit index averages while branch hospitals displayed positive(+), showing that branch hospitals have higher profitability. In particular, in the case of head hospitals, ratio of net profit to total assets was -13.6%, while that of branch hospitals was 12.9%, which was higher than 3.1%, the average of Korean oriental medicine hospitals in 2011. As a result of difference analysis between groups of head hospitals and branch hospitals, profit indices of ratio of operating profit on medical revenue, net-income on medical revenue, and ratio of net profit to total assets were found to vary by hospitals, but there was no statistically significant difference between head hospitals and branch hospitals(p<0.1). Only the ratio of operating profit to total assets of head hospitals and branch hospitals indicated significant difference between the two groups, showing that ratio of operating profit to total assets of branch hospitals is larger than that of head hospitals. Meanwhile, the cost indices of ratio of labor costs, material costs and administrative costs in the difference test results did not show significant difference between the head hospital and branch hospital(p<0.1). Thus, it cannot be said that a certain oriental medicine hospital's profitability is high or low depending on whether it is head hospital or a branch as profitability varies depending on the management environment of the hospital. Therefore, oriental medicine hospitals affiliated with universities would need to make efforts to increase their profitability as an individual hospital rather than focusing on whether they are head hospital or a branch.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.449-468
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• 2024

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to analyze the civil servant pension system in Korea, focusing on general administrative officials. Design/methodology/approach - This study developed a pension projection model that reflects the latest reforms and applied it to forecast the income replacement ratio and benefit ratios. Based on these projections, the study examined financial trends and proposed necessary reforms to ensure sustainability, such as adjusting the pension age. Findings - First, the benefit ratio decreases with later birth cohorts, showing that the reforms have reduced benefit gaps across generations. Second, while fairness within the same generation shows little difference between ranks, differences in income levels still result in significant disparities in pension amounts. Lastly, the pension deficit is expected to increase until 2029, after which it will gradually decrease, though further reforms are needed to ensure long-term financial sustainability. Research implications or Originality - This study is the first to comprehensively assess the fairness and sustainability of the civil servant pension system in Korea, considering both inter- and intra-generational equity. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to ensure the system's sustainability as well as maintaining fairness across different cohorts and income levels.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2015

Objectives : This study presents comparison results of the correlations between ODA grants and health indicators among 23 countries in Asia. Methods : Data from 2005~2013 were collected through the World Development Indicator (WDI) provided by the World Bank (WB). The health-related variables used in this study included the maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, infant mortality rate, incidence of tuberculosis, and prevalence of AIDS. Results : Based on the results, there were positive correlations between ODA grants and health indicators, which means that the overall ODA grants would drop when the health indicators improved. As for differences in the health indicators by income groups among the countries, there were differences in the maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, infant mortality rate, and overall ODA grants. The maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, and infant mortality rate were lower in the order of upper middle, lower middle, and poorest income countries. Conclusions : The findings raise a need for the integrated and horizontal development of Goals 4, 5 and 6 of MDGs in the ODA projects of health sector in the future.