• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 1981

To identify the changes in professional care patterns after the introduction of medical insurance in Korea, professional care in hospitals and clinics of two succeeding years were compared. The hospitals and clinics selected for this study were those which located in Seoul city. Hospitals were classified into 3 categories: university hospital, general hospital and hospital. The diseases selected for this study were acute appendicitis and normal delivery. They were selected because their disease courses are considered to be fairly stable. The variables used for this study were length of stay, total hospital costs, costs of each components of cares. The information used for this study was obtained from the official forms requested by the medical facilities to the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation. The two periods studied were 3 months of each year from March 1st to May 31st in 1979 and 1980, The total number of normal delivery studied was 289 in 1979, 301 in 1980 respectively and the acute appendicitis was 92 and 111 respectively. In order to compare the quantity of medical care between 2 study periods the insurance price scores of 1979 were converted to prices of 1980. For statistical test of difference between 2 periods T-test and Welch's test were used. The result of the study were briefly summarized in below. 1. No significant difference was observed in the average length of stay of both disease between two study periods in all types of hospitals. 2. No significant difference was observed in the average total hospital costs of both diseases in all types of hospital, but in the private clinic the average clinic costs was rather decreased significantly in 1980. 3. More cost decrease were seen than cost increase in 1980 in all types of facilities, More cost changes by items were seen in acute appendicitis than in normal delivery between two study periods. The total hospital costs can be devided into 2 portions: charges for drug and material and for physician. In normal delivery, costs for physician's charges was significantly decreased in almost all the hospitals and costs for drug and material were not changed significantly in all the hospitals in 1980. In the university hospitals, however, the costs for drug and material were increased significantly in 1980. The cost decrease for physician's charge were mainly due to the decrease in the costs of laboratory test, treatment and physical therapy. The increase in the costs for the drug and material in the university hospitals was mainly due to the increase in the cost for drugs for oral administration and injection. 4. The proportion of components of medical care in the hospital has not been changed significantly, however, the cost for injection in normal delivery was characteristically increased in 1980 in all hospitals studied. In general the proportion of the costs for drug and material was tended to increase and the costs for physician was tended to decrease in 1980. The increase in the costs for drug and material were considered to be due to increase in the cost for drugs for oral administration and injection. The decrease in the costs for physician were due to decrease in the costs of laboratory test, treatment and physical therapy. Above mentioned changes in hospital and clinic care patterns are considered to be mostly influenced by the review criteria set by the K.I.C. for the assessment of the fee request made by clinics and hospitals.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.128-138
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• 2019

Purpose: Segmental analysis of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is not clinically used for compositional error source evaluation. Instead, dose verification is routinely used for plan-specific quality assurance (QA). While this approach identifies the resultant error, it does not specify which machine parameter was responsible for the error. In this research study, we adopted an approach for the segmental analysis of VMAT as a part of machine QA of linear accelerator (LINAC). Methods: Two portal dose QA plans were generated for VMAT QA: a) for full arc and b) for the arc, which was segmented in 12 subsegments. We investigated the multileaf collimator (MLC) position and dosimetric accuracy in the full and segmented arc delivery schemes. A MATLAB program was used to calculate the MLC position error from the data in the dynalog file. The Gamma passing rate (GPR) and the measured to planned dose difference (DD) in each pixel of the electronic portal imaging device was the measurement for dosimetric accuracy. The eclipse treatment planning system and a MATLAB program were used to calculate the dosimetric accuracy. Results: The maximum root-mean-square error of the MLC positions were <1 mm. The GPR was within the range of 98%-99.7% and was similar in both types of VMAT delivery. In general, the DD was <5 calibration units in both full arcs. A similar DD distribution was found for continuous arc and segmented arcs sums. Exceedingly high DD were not observed in any of the arc segment delivery schemes. The LINAC performance was acceptable regarding the execution of the VMAT QA plan. Conclusions: The segmental analysis proposed in this study is expected to be useful for the prediction of the delivery of the VMAT in relation to the gantry angle. We thus recommend the use of segmental analysis of VMAT as part of the regular QA.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate the delivery accuracy of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans in the two-headed mode of the ViewRay$^{TM}$ system in comparison with that of the normal operation treatment plan of the machine. For this study, a total of eight IMRT plans and corresponding verification plans were generated (four head and neck, two liver, and two prostate IMRT plans). The delivered dose distributions were measured using ArcCHECK$^{TM}$ with the insertion of an ionization chamber. We measured the delivered dose distributions in three-headed mode (normal operation of the machine), two-headed mode with head 1 disabled, two-headed mode with head 2 disabled, and two-headed mode with head 3 disabled. Therefore, a total of four measurements were performed for each IMRT plan. The global gamma passing rates (3%/3 mm) in three-headed mode, head 1 disabled, head 2 disabled, and head 3 disabled were $99.9{\pm}0.1%$, $99.8{\pm}0.3%$, $99.6{\pm}0.7%$, and $99.7{\pm}0.4%$, respectively. The difference in the gamma passing rates of the three- and two-headed modes was insignificant. With 2%/2 mm, the rates were $96.6{\pm}3.6%$, $97.2{\pm}3.5%$, $95.7{\pm}6.2%$, and $95.5{\pm}4.3%$, respectively. Between three-headed mode and head 3 disabled, a statistically significant difference was observed with a p-value of 0.02; however, the difference was minimal (1.1%). The chamber readings showed differences of approximately 1% between three- and two-headed modes, which were minimal. Therefore, the treatment plan delivery in the two-headed mode of the ViewRay$^{TM}$ system seems accurate and robust.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.235-256
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• 2024

Background: The adequate provision of medical care relies on the availability of a suitable number of healthcare professionals. To ensure stability in healthcare delivery, it is crucial for a country to accurately estimate and address the supply of doctors. This study aims to contribute to the formulation of effective policies for securing and distributing doctor manpower, with a focus on medically underserved areas at both the national and local government levels. Methods: Employing the system dynamics methodology, this research utilizes stock and flow diagrams, including level and rate diagrams, to quantitatively analyze the cumulative structure of the doctor supply and demand system. Results: The analysis reveals a substantial shortage of clinical doctors in Gyeongsangnam-do, amounting to 15,477 as of 2021. Projections indicate a need for an additional 7,570 doctors by the year 2050 to maintain the current healthcare service level. Examination of medical treatment rights and distribution across cities and counties indicates an insufficiency in doctor supply relative to demand in the majority of regions. Alternative scenarios, such as increasing medical school enrollments and adjusting retirement ages, were explored, yet none provided a sufficient resolution to the shortage. Conclusion: The findings underscore an impending exacerbation of the doctor shortage in Gyeongsangnam-do if the existing system is perpetuated. Addressing this issue necessitates not only augmenting the number of medical school students and adapting retirement age policies but also implementing diverse strategies employed successfully in other countries. This study serves as a foundational step in informing evidence-based policies aimed at securing an ample and appropriately distributed doctor workforce for sustainable healthcare delivery.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.233-250
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to assess the development, current states, and problems of MEDLIS document delivery service. With the analysis of MEDLIS transaction data from 2001 to 2011, we identified continuous usage decrease, unbalanced contribution by type of institution, high dependence on back issues, use differences among subfields of medicine, relatively low success rate, and various reasons for failure. Based on the results, recommendations for the maintenance of union catalog database, technical support for search capability enhancements, establishment of back issue archiving policy, user training and publicity, and membership expansion are suggested to promote the service.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.71-80
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• 2020

This paper provides a brief review of the advanced technologies for carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT), with a focus on current developments. Compared to photon beam therapy, treatment using heavy ions, especially a carbon beam, has potential advantages due to its physical and biological properties. Carbon ion beams with high linear energy transfer demonstrate high relative biological effectiveness in cell killing, particularly at the Bragg peak. With these unique properties, CIRT allows for accurate targeting and dose escalation for tumors with better sparing of adjacent normal tissues. Recently, the available CIRT technologies included fast pencil beam scanning, superconducting rotating gantry, respiratory motion management, and accurate beam modeling for the treatment planning system. These techniques provide precise treatment, operational efficiency, and patient comfort. Currently, there are 12 CIRT facilities worldwide; with technological improvements, they continue to grow in number. Ongoing technological developments include the use of multiple ion beams, effective beam delivery, accurate biological modeling, and downsizing the facility.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2022

Natural and synthetic forms of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) have been widely used in bone repair and augmentation. The major challenge of injectable CPC is to deliver the cells without cell death in order to regenerate new bone. The study objective was to investigate for the potential of stem cell-laden gelatin fibers containing injectable, nanocrystalline CPC to function as a delivery system. Gelatin noddle fiber method was developed to delivered cells into nCPC. Experimental groups were prepared by mixing cells with nCPC, mixing cell-laden gelatin fibers with nCPC and mixing cell-laden gelatin fibers containing BMP-2 with nCPC. Media diffusion test was conducted after dissolving the gelatin fibers. SEM examined the generated channels and delivered cell morphology. Fibers mixed with nCPC showed physical setting and hardening within 20 min after injection and showed good shape maintenances. The gelatin fibers mixed nCPC group had several vacant channels generated from the dissolved gelatin. Particularly, proliferation and attachment of the cells were observed inside of the channels. While live cells were not observed in the cell mixed nCPC group, cells delivered with the gelatin fibers into the nCPC showed good viability and increased DNA content with culture. Cell-laden gelatin fiber was a novel method for cell delivery into nCPC without cell damages. Results also indicated the osteogenic differentiation of gelatin fiber delivered cells. We suggest that the cell-laden gelatin fibers mixed with nCPC can be used as an injectable cell delivery vehicle and the addition of BMP-2 to enhances osteogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.29-39
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of delivery and puerperium complications in South Korea and analyze the correlations between the patient's characteristics and delivery and complications before and after 10 years. Methods: This study used the data from an Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey. Cases of which the principal diagnosis and second diagnoses were disease classification ICD code O00-O99(Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium) were defined as the study subjects, and the first study group was divided as the year of discharge from 2005 to 2007, and the second study group from 2015 to 2017. Results: The number of patients discharged whose principal diagnosis or second diagnoses was O00-O99 was 21,598(Weighted 423,306) from 2005 to 2007 and 19,028(Weighted 364,384) from 2015 to 2017, which decreased by 13.9% compared to 10 years ago. The average age of discharged patients increased by about 2 years and was statistically significant (p<.0001). Factors associating spontaneous delivery, caesarean section and puerperium complication were hospitalization route, bed size, maternal age, length of hospital stay, and the year of discharge. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, health and education policies and economic support for medical care for high-risk pregnancy and delivery management would be necessary continuously. In addition, policies to strengthen the medical system for high-risk pregnancy management in non-metropolitan areas with high fertility rates would also be needed.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.580-583
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to prepare a hydrogels composed of alginate blended with a carboxymethyl scleroglucan (CMSC) and evaluate the feasibility of the hydrogels as a drug delivery system for a protein. The main advantage of the alginate/CMSC hydrogels is to improve a restricted drug release from alginate hydrogels. The CMSC was chemically synthesized with chloroacetic acid and confirmed using a FT-IR. The alginate/CMSC hydrogels were prepared at distinct compositions by crosslinking with calcium ions. The swelling ratios of these hydrogels increased significantly with increasing the content of CMSC. At pH 7.4, the swelling ratios of the hydrogels increased remarkably as compared to those at pH 1.2. In ovalbumin (OVA) release test, the amount of OVA released from the hydrogels showed higher as compared to those released at pH 1.2. In addition, the release of OVA was improved with increasing the content of CMSC. Thus, the alginate/CMSC hydrogels may be used as a potential system for oral delivery of protein drugs.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.153-185
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• 2020

In principle, even if serious consequences such as death or serious injury of a patient occur as a result of a medical accident, if the medical malpractice of a health care worker is not recognized, the health care worker is not held liable for said consequences. However, with the opening of the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency on April 7, 2012, a system was established to compensate health care personnel for their medical malpractices only in the case of "injuries caused by medical accidents in the course of childbirth" (hereinafter referred to as "program for compensation of medical accidents"). Article 46 paragraph 1 of the current Medical Dispute Mediation Act, which is the basis of the Force Majeure Medical Accident Compensation System, stipulates that "medical accidents under delivery" claims are to be determined by the Medical Accident Compensation Review Committee are subject to the compensation project. And the details of the compensation, ratio of sharing financial resources for compensation, scope of compensation, and the guidelines and procedure for the payment of compensations are prescribed by Presidential Decree. In other words, the Presidential Decree requires the state to pay 70 percent of the compensation funds, and 30 percent of the above funds among health care providers. The Constitutional Court has decided on the 2015Hun-Ga13 that the scope of the health care institution's founders and the share of the compensation funds cannot be directly determined by the law, and that the portion delegated by the Presidential decree does not violate the Principle of Legal Protection nor Comprehensive Nondelegation Doctrine. However, this can be seen as an exclusion of accountability for force-induced delivery accidents even if there is no negligence of the medical staff. If the nature of the system is a type of social security system with a social compensatory nature, it could consider eliminating the health care innovator's cost-sharing provisions, leaving the full cost to the state. However, it is also necessary to review institutional protocols that strengthen the efforts of medical institutions in areas such as analysis of the causes of medical accidents and measures to prevent their recurrence. In addition, I think that the conclusion of the Act is in line with the purpose of the Comprehensive Wage Support Regulations that at minimum the law sets an upper limit of the compensation funds that are to be paid by health and medical institutions. Moreover, it is reasonable for the Medical Accident Compensation Review Committee to specify gestational age and weight of births, which are the criteria for compensation, under the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Dispute Mediation Act, in relation to the criteria for payment of contributions by the Medical Accident Compensation Review Committee, and to set the detailed criteria.