• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2016

Purpose: According to the trend of the global burden of disease, in the future our society is expected to face with gradually increasing problems related to mental health and the demand for the various types of quality mental health facilities. This study investigates whether the accreditation of Mental health facilities serves as a building evaluation tool, and contribute to environmental welfare of the mentally ill. Methods: The facility assessment items related to architectural design are extracted through the analysis about the accreditation program of KOIHA. Extracted items should review if they comply with the relevant regulations, and establish building design standard. Results: This study shows that the accreditation of KOIHA can certify psychiatric hospitals meet the legal requirements, the minimum standard of facilities. But it is not the evaluation of environmental quality. It is difficult to assess the quality of facility in terms of architectural design, because it has no specific standards or the level of assessment. Implications: The accreditation for mental health facilities should be able to provide the right and opportunity to choose a more quality facility for the customer. The introduction of a certification system for the evaluation of environmental quality is required in order to overcome the limitations of the accreditation of KOIHA. Development of design guidelines for mental health facilities that are the basis for certification should be also followed.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2012

Two years have passed since hospital accreditation was introduced in Korea by the Korean Institute of Healthcare Accreditation (KOIHA), which takes, as its mission, continuously improving healthcare quality and patient safety for the public. KOIHA also has a plan to impose on outcomes in management of patient care. With a view to enhance the practice of accreditation in terms of quality as well as quantity, and to help improve healthcare quality and patient safety in Korea, this paper reviews some issues on healthcare policies which are expected to be adopted in 2013 by the forthcoming government. A few suggestions are added.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.220-235
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate how clinical nutrition services is provided at a long term care hospital in Korea and to investigate job satisfaction levels of the clinical dietitians. Methods: Survey questionnaire was sent to dietitians working at a long term care hospital in Korea. The participating hospitals (n=240) were randomly selected from 1,180 long- term care hospitals using a stratified sampling method. A total of 134 long term care hospital s and 223 dietitians completed the survey of clinical nutrition service s and job satisfaction questionnaires The job satisfaction questionnaire included 27 job satisfaction questions on task, stability vision, working conditions, and relationship areas. Results: The average nutritional screening rate was 17.9% and the rate of computerized nutritional screening system was 9.7% in the participating hospitals. Nutritional intervention rate was only 3.2% of all patients. KOIHA (Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation) accreditated hospitals showed only 50% performance rate of nutrition service evaluation area. This shows that after achieving KOIHA accredition, many hospitals do not emphasize the performance of nutritional services. The job satisfaction scores in all four areas ranged from 2/5 to 3/5, implying generally low job satisfaction level in hospital dietitians. Linear regression analysis results showed that the "hospital adequacy grade" type was a significant predictor of job satisfaction level for two areas (working conditions & relationship). Conclusions: There is a need to provide proper standardized clinical nutrition services as a primary treatment and we observed large variations in the quality of nutritional service s in long term care hospitals. Therefore, government and local hospitals have to work on implementing nutritional programs and policies for improved service and care.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.183-198
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of clinical nutrition services provided at tertiary hospitals and general hospitals in Korea. In total, 157 questionnaires were distributed to the departments of nutrition at hospitals on September 2013. The results of this study are as follows. The median number of beds was 607 and average length of stay was 8 days. 63.1% of dietitians had over 5 years of career experience. Nutritional screening rate was 97% in tertiary hospitals but only 67.2% in general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of equipment with computerized nutritional screening system was 100% in tertiary hospitals but 71.9% in general hospitals (P<0.001). Hospitals with the best regarding nutritional care were hospitals accredited by JCI (Joint Commission International). On the other hand, hospitals not accredited by the JCI but KOIHA (Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation) showed the lowest performance rate of nutritional care. Nutrition support teams (NSTs) were established in all tertiary hospitals but in only 73% of general hospitals (P<0.001). The rate of actively operating NSTs was 89% in tertiary hospitals but only 62% in general hospitals (P<0.001). There is a need to provide proper standardized clinical nutrition services as a primary treatment and we observed large variations in the quality of nutritional service between hospitals. Therefore, local solutions are needed to implement nutritional programs and policies for improved service and care.