• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.479-488
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• 2023

Background: By applying the suggested criteria for needs-based chronic medical care and long-term care delivery system for the elderly, the current status of delivery system was identified and regional delivery systems were categorized according to quantity and quality of delivery system. Methods: National claims data were used for this study. All claims data of medical and long-term care uses by the elderly and all claims data from long-term care hospitals and nursing homes in 2016 were analyzed to categorize the regional medical and long-term care delivery system. The current status of the delivery system with a high possibility of transition to a needs-based appropriate delivery system was identified. The necessary and actual amount of regional supply was calculated based on their needs, and the structure of delivery systems was evaluated in terms of the needs-based quality of the system. Finally, all regions were categorized into 15 types of medical and care delivery systems for the elderly. Results: Of the total 55 regions, 89.1% of regions had an oversupply of elderly medical and care services compared to the necessary supply based on their needs. However, 69.1% of regions met the criteria for less than two types of needs groups, and 21.8% of regions were identified as regions where the numbers of institutions or regions with a high possibility of transition to an appropriate delivery system were below the average levels for all four needs groups. Conclusion: In order to establish an appropriate community-based integrated elderly care system, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of the regional delivery system categories and to plan a needs-based delivery system regionally.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.60-74
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• 2009

This study purports to verify managerial effectiveness of the integrated delivery system(IDS) of Japanese health care institutions through comparing the managerial performance between hospital groups providing with both acute and nursing care and those with acute care only. Data on the managerial performance of 697 hospitals providing with nursing care together and 819 hospitals providing with acute care only were collected from Japanese Central Social Insurance Medical Councils 2001, 2003, 2005, and were analyzed using mean comparison test(t-test) between the two groups. The results revealed that there were significant differences between the two groups in such indicators as ratio of material cost, labor cost, depreciation rate, total margin, operating margin, average number of outpatient per day, average revenue of an inpatient per day, total amount of labor cost, gross revenue per employee, and labor productivity. However, we could not find out any consistent evidence which support the effect of integrated delivery system on the hospital managerial performance. Further discussion was made on the limitation of the study and future research agenda relevant to the topic.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.304-311
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• 2014

This manuscript treats a new paradigm for the Korean health care system. We give an account of innovative health care delivery and payment models widely discussed in the contemporary US accountable care organization and coordinated care organization. In doing so, we explore a new health care model amenable to foreseeable changes to the health care system. We propose creating an integrated health care system in which the network of health care providers delivers coordinated and comprehensive care for enrolled patients residing within the geographic boundaries served by the provider network; providers may participate voluntarily in one or more networks and assume shared responsibility for patient care and cost; provider networks compete with each other based on cost and quality; and consumers are allowed to choose a network. We expect that the new paradigm will create a financially-sustainable system that assures quality of care and improves patient experience, minimizing the existing system-wide inefficiency through cross-network competition and within-network care coordination.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 2017

Purpose: To develop staffing levels for nursing personnel (registered nurses and nursing assistants) to provide inpatients with integrated nursing care that includes, in addition to professional nursing care, personal care previously provided by patients' families or private caregivers. Methods: A time & motion study was conducted to observe nursing care activities and the time spent by nursing personnel, families, and private caregivers in 10 medical-surgical units. The Korean Patient Classification System-1 (KPCS-1) was used for the nurse manager survey conducted to measure staffing levels and patient needs for nursing care. Results: Current nurse to patient ratios from the time-motion study and the survey study were 1:10 and 1:11, respectively. Time spent in direct patient care by nursing personnel and family/private caregivers was 51 and 130 minutes per day, respectively. Direct nursing care hours correlated with KPCS-1 scores. Nursing personnel to patient ratio required to provide integrated inpatient care ranged from 1:3.9 to 1:6.1 in tertiary hospitals and from 1:4.4 to 1:6.0 in general hospitals. The functional nursing care delivery system had been implemented in 38.5% of the nursing units. Conclusion: Findings indicate that appropriate nurse staffing and efficient nursing care delivery systems are required to provide integrated inpatient nursing care.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.18-48
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• 2004

Health policies in many countries have come under critical scrutiny in recent years. This is because of increasing national health expenditures. Also many persons in health sector have been the perception that resources allocated to health services are not always deployed in an optimal fashion. And they believe that the scope of resources in health services is limited, there is need to search for ways of using existing resources more efficiently. A further concern has been the desire to ensure access to healthcare of various groups on an equitable basis. In some European countries this has been linked to a wish to enhance patient choice and to make service providers more responsive to consumers, while Korea integrated health insurance funds into single fund in 2000. Many European countries are under considerable pressure to review and restructure their health care systems. There are several reasons of pressure to reform. There are demographic changes, pattern of disease change, advances in medical sciences will also give rise to new demands within the health services, public expectations of health services are rising as those who use services demand higher standards of care. These circumstances require the change of health care delivery system based on hierarchical regionalism, which was basis of health care delivery since 1920s. Korea is also under similarly pressure to restructure our own health care systems. We will have good learning from OECD experiences. In this paper we reviewed and compared among OECD countries' various experiences.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.115-131
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• 2011

Several common issues are encountered by countries - Germany, Japan, and the United States - that adopted long-term care (LTC) system. First, the demand for LTC and its associated costs have steeply risen following the implementation of the LTC policy. Second, ensuring the quality of services have been difficult. Third, the coordination of services among providers and between LTC and medical care has been inadequate. Learning from their experience, we suggest ways to improve the LTC system in Korea. The basic approach aims for efficiency over equity in the system. This would require promoting provider competition and consumer choice. We propose several policy options according to the major stakeholders. For consumers, cash benefits at fixed rates and personal savings accounts are feasible options to self-contain the demand and cost of services. On the insurer's side, creating an environment of multiple insurers will engender competition, leading to cost savings and quality care. For providers, delivery of quality services through competition, cost-containment through capitated reimbursements, and coordination of services through integrated delivery system can be achieved. From the assessors' perspective, establishing an information system to monitor the activities of insurers and providers would be important, empowering consumers with information to choose cost-effective service providers. In summary, the suggested approach would provide cost-effective LTC services by guaranteeing consumer choice and promoting major stakeholder accountability. Further studies are needed to test the feasibility of this model in ensuring quality LTC in Korea.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.186-196
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• 2021

Purpose: Breast cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent among young Korean women. During pregnancy, women's concern regarding their breasts heightens. Thus, pregnancy provides a window of opportunity for breast cancer prevention and management along with antenatal care. This study developed and evaluated an integrated breast health program for pregnant women. Methods: This study employed a non-equivalent control group and non-synchronized design (22 experimental, 29 control). Women pregnant for over 28 weeks participated. The two-session integrated breast health program focused on breast management during breastfeeding and education about breast cancer prevention and early screening. Results: During the early postpartum period (within three months after the program), there were statistically significant differences in knowledge and attitude about breast cancer and breast self-examination before and after the program. There were also statistically significant differences in BSE at 6 and 12 months after the program and mammography at 12 months after the program. However, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical breast examination and breast ultrasonography at 6 and 12 months after the program. Conclusion: The integrated breast health management program was effective in increasing knowledge and improving attitudes regarding breast cancer, BSE, and early screening practices among pregnant women. Further studies should consider providing breast health programs differently for each phase of pregnancy and continuing the same after delivery.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.159-173
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• 1994

Since the establishment of health centers in the 1960s, the centers have been played an important role in providing basic health care for the people. Although the health centers made a great effect to prevent diseases and promote the health status of the people for the last three decades, the function of health centers should be strengthened to meet the health care need of individual, family and community. Over the last ten years, there have been great changes and developments in health related environments, such as population size and age, rapid urbanization, up-grading of the educational level, increase of income, health care demand for promotive health care measures and practical measures for chronic diseases and also practicing healthy life. According to the great changes in health related environments, the health centers should be reformed. The following policy options are recommended as a summary; First, the function of health centers should be converted from providing basic health services into promotive and preventive health care services, to meet changing needs of people. Second, the health center personnel should be reinforced for their competency to provide a qualitative services to people and also the operation of health center should be reactivated. Third, a close linkage of health centers with the private sector is an essential requirement for the operation of the health care delivery system within a health district in order to improve the health status of people. Fourth, type of manpower mix, scope of organization and health care program should be varied, based on the health care needs of people, geographical characteristics and size of population etc. Fifth, a comprehensive health care delivery system should be developed, for maintaining healthy life style of people and also the health and welfare services should be integrated in order n ensure an effective service.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.536-552
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how homeless shelter worker and public health nurses perceive health status and health care of homeless shelter residents (HSRs). Methods: Data collected through focus group interviews. In Focus group, in-depth discussions were between 150 to 160 minutes. Data analyzed using Krueger (1998) step analysis. Participants were seven experienced clinical social workers, nurses working homeless shelters, and public health center nurses for dosshouse people. Results: The results were 4 themes and 15 sub-themes: Characteristics of HSRs, perception of health and health problem of HSRs (alcohol related disease, hypertension Diabetics, gastro-intestinal disease, dental disease and infectios disease such as Tuberculosis, musculo-skeletal disease, prostate problem), health care status of HSRs(insufficient health care service, discrimination of medical staff, lack of health care management, low satisfaction community health care services), and the health care proposal of HSRs(nurse in homeless shelter, integrated health care system, understanding of homeless) Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, health care programs focusing on understanding of HSRs and chronic diseases of HSRs increasing steadily although the management system is limited. Therefore, more systemized health care plan and health referral system for homeless people.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.403-428
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• 2018

There has been constant attempts for integration of public welfare delivery system which lead to integrated case management, then this become more significant issue regarding 'community care' recently in Korea. However, most of them was limited to fractional organization rearrangement or more use of private resources rather than realising user-centred approach. Therefore, in this research, we would like to do a couple of case studies in Britain which has rich experience of reforms for integrated approaches between health and social services and Troubled Family programme resembles the integrated case management in Korea by visiting a London Borough and a local council respectively. In conclusion, we found three conditions are required to establish successful integrated delivery system: elimination of institutional barriers relating to workforce, organization, and finance; shared objectives and partnership among the professional groups and agencies; and information sharing system with technical support regarding individual cases.