• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.4 s.44
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• pp.614-627
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• 1993

It is well known that a physician's personal characteristic affects his practice pattern. Furthermore, a physician's specialty has powerful influences on his practice pattern. However, despite the fact that specialization has received the most attention for its influence on physician's service behavior, few studies have been conducted on the variations of contents and volume of physician's services. This study has intended to identify factors influencing the practice variations according to various physician characteristics. There are some other evidences that medical care providers are different in using of health services and resources in Korea. Four physician characteristics were selected for the analysis, two demographical factors, age and sex, and two practice factors, place of practice and medical specialty. Also, three indicators of service amount (total amount of insurance claim bill, number of visits per case, number of prescriptions per case) were selected. From the pool of insurance claims for ambulatory care received by the Korean National Federation of Medical Insurance(NFMI), 84,898 cases were randomly sampled. In the meantime using physician database of NFMI, 613 general practitioners (GP), 107 regular family physicians (FP), 483 'grandfather' family physicians(GFP), and 1,157 specialist practitioners(SP) were randomly sampled. Their different practice contents were compared concerning the specialty, age groups, sex, and practice sites (urban-rural) Specialist physicians tend to provide more costly care than do generalists. General practitioners and family physicians usually make fewer following visits and prescriptions. Age is also the important factor in determining the amount of services, which is highest at the physician's age group of 40's. Female doctors and urban practitioners use much more resources than their counterparts respectively. Research findings suggest that physician's characteristics particularly the specialty can affect practice patterns and resource utilizations. Other characteristics such as age and sex are not controllable but physician's specialty is relatively easily controllable during the entire phases of policy implementation. This is all the more true in the individual's initial decision of his specialty. Specialization therefore should receive policymaker's attention for its potential influence on medical care utilization and health care expenditure.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.109-129
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was the acquisition of the optimum scale of the apportionment of standard & high-class bed for the maximum profit representative of the desire of customers in a General Hospital with 1,100 beds located in Seoul. This investigation was proceeded by the analysis of the result of the simulation with the survey of both the patients' needs for bed and the degree of the medical service by the grade of the ward. And finally the consequence was obtained as follows: 1. The result of the investigation of the inpatients' preference for the grade of ward classes shows that a private ward reflected 4.3 percent, a semi-private ward 1.7 percent, a three-bed ward 0.1 percent, and a ward with six beds 93.9 percent each other. 2. A questionnaire poll was paralleled of service terms of a medical doctor and a nurse by ward class, the data were used for the standard of the allotment of labor cost by the ward class. The poll shows that the service tenn of a medical doctor and a nurse based on a ward with six beds by ward class showed 1.7 times in internal medicine and 1.9 times in surgery at a private ward; 1.4 times in internal medicine and 1.7 times in surgery at a semi-private room; and 1.2 times both in internal medicine and in surgery at a three-bed ward 3. The resultant findings revealed the most profit per bed and per patient in a private ward. However, an analysis of profit with a standard of unit area by ward class represented a higher profit in both the internal medicine and the surgery semi-private ward than other ward classes. 4. The result of the analysis through simulation based on the data of the prime cost per the ward class proved the optimum scale of the distribution of beds by class as follows: sixteen beds of the internal medicine and twenty three beds of the surgery in the private ward; two hundreds and two of the internal medicine and one hundred and ninety eight of the surgery in the semi-private room; three of both the internal medicine and the surgery each other in the three-bed ward; one hundred and ninety eight of the internal medicine and two hundred and fifty two of the surgery in the ward with six beds. The result of this research exhibits that the income and expenditure of the hospital could be improved by changing parts of wards into private ones(containing the maximum profit per a unit of width) in case the scale of the number of beds is reset with the consideration of the profit per the unit width. In the near future it's strongly expected that the research for the more scientific standard of the allotment of labour cost by ward class and for definition of the optimum scale of the number of beds that actualize the maximum profit with the change of the three elements of the prime cost: cost of materials; labor costs; management expenses.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.157-165
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• 2018

Companies conduct R&D for continuous development and enhancement of corporate value, and obtain patents as an intangible asset resulting from this process. This study screened 103 medical device firms whose R&D information, patent information, and management performance information were all published to determine how R&D activities and patents affect corporate operational performance. The number of patents, R&D costs, company type and Inno-Biz of the company were set as independent variables, and the companies' sales, intangible assets, operating profit ratios, net profit margins, corporate ratings and profit-related financial ratios were used as dependent variables. The results confirmed that R&D expenditure had negative (-) effects on most indicators, including sales volume, operating profit ratio, and net profit ratio, while it had positive (+) [ED highlight - these are unnecessary if negative and positive are also written out.] effects only on intangible assets. Additionally, domestic patents were found to have negative (-) effects on sales, cash flow ratings, and dropped capital return, and positive (+) effects on net profit growth. Moreover, the business performance variables affected by the company characteristics were sales volume and cash flow ratings. The medical device industry is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses Although research and development activities and patents have been shown to have a negative impact on corporate management in the short term, they are expected to have a positive long-term impact when reflecting the characteristics of the medical device industry that must undergo clinical trials and authorization procedures after R&D.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.953-987
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• 2013

This study aimed at identifying level of self-sufficiency, and support need for it in rural multicultural families. Frist, the level of self-sufficiency in rural multicultural families was the lowest in a information sub-area, whereas it was the highest in a socio-psychological relation sub-area. Second, the chi-square test showed that the level of assistant request for a cost-of-living allowance was high in the multicultural family group received the medical social security(MSS) or not prepared the expenditure for children education or the golden years. Whereas the level of assistant request for the education of marketing or agricultural technology was high in the multicultural family group not received MSS or prepared the expenditure for children education or the golden years. Third, rate of PC ownership in the rural multicultural families was lower than that of national whole. and difference of it according to the living characteristics uch as MSS was not statistically significant. Fourth, difference in level of assistant request for children education and social dimension according to the living characteristics such as MSS was not statistically significant. It means that assistant request for children education and social dimension have universality without distinction the living characteristics such as MSS. And to conclude, support for self-sufficiency in rural multicultural families should be selective approach with discriminative or integrational viewpoint according to the living characteristics such as MSS or area of self-sufficiency. Findings of this study may be used as a basic material to establish the policy supporting self-sufficiency in rural multicultural families.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.713-720
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• 2013

The objectives of this study are to identify whether the small area variation also exists in the oriental medicine and, if it exists, what causes, to expand our boundary of research interests on the small area variation observed at the western medicine toward the oriental medicine as one of the fundamental research foundations and to provide any fundamental findings from this study results to the healthcare politicians to promote consumer's rational behaviors for the use of healthcare. This study analyzed the health insurance claim data (2010, 2011) which were the patients of western medicine and the outpatients of the oriental medicine with the top 10 most frequent diseases and looked into the variation of healthcare utilization among the areas after grouping resident area into an 86-area category. The study result shows that the small area variation was also observed at the part of the oriental medicine in which the characteristics of patients critically affect the healthcare expenditure per visit day rather than those of providers and the characteristics of both patients and providers equally affect the healthcare expenditure per patient. Therefore, this study suggests that government set up healthcare policies on the standardization of oriental medicine to prevent its over-utilization and unmet need, enforcing the roles of oriental medicine in the markets, enhancing the appropriate health care utilization, and expanding provision and sharing the health care information to reduce unnecessary health care utilization.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.5-11
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• 2013

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to construct a turnover estimation model by investigating research by Park et al. (2006) on the market area of domestic distribution. The study investigated distribution by using a new tool for the turnover estimation technique. This study developed and discussed the turnover estimation technique of Park et al. (2006), applying it to a large-scale retailer in "D"city that was suitable for on-the-spot distribution. It constructed the new model in accordance with test procedures keeping to this retail business location, to apply its procedures to a specific situation and improve the turn over estimation process. Further, it investigated the analysis and procedures of existing turnover estimation cases to provide problems and alternatives for turnover estimation for a large-scale retailer in "D"city. Finally, it also discussed problems and scope for further research. Research design, data, and methodology - This study was conducted on the basis of "virtue" studies. In other words, it took into account the special quality of the structure of Korea's trade zones. The researcher sought to verify a sale estimate model for use in a distribution industry's location. The main purpose was to enable the sale estimate model (that is, the individual model's presentation) to be practically used in real situations in Korea by supplementing processes and variables. Results - The sale estimate model is constructed, first, by conducting a data survey of the general trading area. Second, staying within the city's census of company operating areas, the city's total consumption expenditure is derived by applying the large-scale store index. Third, the probability of shopping is investigated. Fourth, the scale of sales is estimated using the process of singularity. The correct details need to be verified for the model construction and the new model will need to be a distinct sale estimate model, with this being a special quality for business conditions. This will need to be a subsequent research task. Conclusions - The study investigated, tested, and supplemented the turnover estimation model of Park et al. (2006) in a market area in South Korea. Supplementation of some procedures and variables could provide a turnover estimation model in South Korea that would be an independent model. The turnover estimation model is applied, first, by undertaking an investigation of the market area. Second, a census of the intercity market area is carried out to estimate the total consumption of the specific city. Consumption is estimated by applying indexes of large-scale retailers. Third, an investigation is undertaken on the probability of shopping. Fourth, the scale of turnover is estimated. Further studies should investigate each department as well as direct and indirect variables. The turnover estimation model should be tested to construct new models depending on the type of region and business. In-depth and careful discussion by researchers is also needed. An upgraded turnover estimation model could be developed for Korea's on-the-spot distribution.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

As we are turnning into the aged society, accidents by falling down are increasing in the aged people's group. In this paper, we design the system with the 3-Axis acceleration sensor which is composed by a single chip. The body activity signal is measured with the signal detector and RF communicator in this proposed system and the and falling by the entering signal pattern analysis with 3-Axis acceleration sensor. For the RF communication, we are using nRF24L01p and 8bits ATmega uC for the processor. The error of energy expenditure estimation between motor driven treadmill and proposed a body activity module was 7.8% respectively. Human activities and falling is monitored according to analyze and judge the critical value of the Signal Vector. as falled down if they don't turn off the alarm after specific period and the aged person's after falling down activities are their position and more.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-18
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between intangible asset items and company value by empirical research in the medical industry, which may enhance usefulness of the results of other empirical research on intangible asset and company value. In order to attain the purpose of this study, the stock price is taken as the independent variable and all of intangible asset items reported to a balance sheet except the development expenditures and other development expenditures, and advertisement expenses, ordinary research & development expenditures reported on the income statement are taken as the dependent variables. In the following, I carried out four meaningful results from the analysis. First, research hypothesis 1; Book value of intangible asset reported in balance sheet bears positive relationship with company value shows that development expenditures 1 variable gives positive association in a significant level while a group of \10,000-above-company shows no relationship with company value, the other group of below-\10,000-company supports a consistently significant association. All this considering, we have to keep in mind that lack of prudence may leads to wrong results when we try to analyze. Second, research hypothesis 2; Intangible asset and other intangible asset expenditures reported on the income statement gives positive effect on company value shows that R&D accounts variables give insignificance in a statistical level to all company, including entire group, \10,000-above and below consistently. These results testify that current accounting system is valid. Third, in the case of other intangible asset, it requires further examination of current KAS because statistical results show negatively significant value or insignificant value in a statistical level. That means the more intangible assets, the less company value or nothing. Last, in the case of advertisement expenditure variables of above-\10,000 and entire company shows insignificances in a statistical level consistently while below-\10,000-company shows significant result coherently. We should regard accounting information on the advertisement expenditures of \10,000-below-company with caution. The results of this study provide controversial points whether intangible asset items reported on B/S, excluding development expenditures, should be regarded as asset. To facilitate the utility of accounting information on intangible asset, it seems necessary to regard advertisement expenditures reported on I/S as asset accounts. There are further arguments on the way of dealing with intangible asset under KAS that might be considered.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.113-144
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• 2020

Throughout various data sources, it is widely observed that air quality in South Korea has become improved. Koreans, however, insist that their health status and economic burden due to worsened air quality get degenerated. This study aims to explain the mismatch between perception and measured data, air pollution-led medical expenses, and consumption behaviors in the economics perspectives. First, we demonstrated data-driven evidence of mismatch in the perceived severity of air pollution and its enhancement in measured data. Second, using the health demand model, we theoretically derived and empirically showed a co-rising relation between air pollution severity and medical expenses. Last, we analyzed that the perception led to increased defensive expenditures in consumption. This result implies the possibility of overestimation in air pollution impacts on socioeconomic losses and its possible reverse interpretation from increased social benefit after improved air quality. Our results recommend policy consideration to strengthen air quality standards, to support socially vulnerable groups regarding defensive expenditures, and to improve the accessibility and credibility of air pollution information.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.195-207
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• 1997

High price equipment is one of the major factors that increases national health expenditure in developed countries. Computerized Tomography(CT), one of the important high price equipment, has been concerns of health service researchers and policy makers in many countries. In Korea, CT, first introduced in 1984, have spreaded nationwide with rapid speed. Though the Committee for Approving Import of High Price Medical Equipment, founded in 1981, tried to regulate the introduction of high price medical equipment including CT, the effort resulted in failure. The exact situation of diffusion of the high price equipment, however, was not yet investigated. We aimed at the description of the diffusion of CT in Korea and analysis of influencing factors on hospitals for the adoption of CT. We mainly used the database of CT, made in 1996 by the National Federation of Medical Insurance for the purpose of insurance payment for CT. Also characteristics of hospitals were gathered from yearbooks published by the central and local governments and by the Korean Hospital Association. We calculated the cumulative number of the CT per one million population year by year. In turn, multiple linear logistic regression was done to find out the contributing factors for the adoption of CT by each hospital. In the logistic regression model, it is regarded as dependent factor whether a hospital retained CT or not in 1988 and 1993. The major categories of the independent factors were hospital characteristics, environmental factors and competitive conditions of hospitals at the period of the adoption. The results are as follows: Number of CT scanners per one million persons in Korea marked more higher level compared with those of most OECD countries. Major influencing factors on the adoption of CT scanners were hospital characteristics, such as hospital referral level, and competitive condition of hospitals, such as number of CT scanners per 10,000 persons in each district where the hospital was located. In Korea, CT diffused with rather rapid speed, comparable with those of the United States and Japan. The major factors contributing on the adoption of CT for hospitals were competitive condition and hospital characteristics rather than regional health care need for CT. In conclusion, a kind of regulating mechanism would be necessary for the prevention of the indiscreet adoption and inefficient use of high price equipment including CT.