• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.56-67
• /
• 2021

Background: Regular doctor visits are vital for hypertension patients, especially for who have never received hypertension medication or non-pharmacologic therapy. This study purposed to study factors affecting outpatient visits for patients diagnosed with hypertension. Methods: This study included 59,009 respondents with hypertension over 30 from 2019 Community Health Survey data. Outpatient visits were defined by having hypertension treatments such as medication or non-pharmacologic therapy. Logistic regression was used to examine the factors affecting outpatient visits using SAS ver. 9.3. Results: 57,081(96.73%) patients with hypertension were identified as those having a outpatient visit for hypertension treatments, whereas 1,928(3.27%) patients did not have visits. Patient's characteristics such as gender, age, periods of hypertension, education level, perception of the blood pressure, hypertension management education, place of living, body mass index, depression and diabetes were found to have statistically significant relationship with the outpatient visits. Practical Implications: There is a need to select patients with high blood pressure who are unlikely to visit for hypertension treatments based on the study results. For those, establishing a personalized management plan such as health education and counseling programs will be helpful for the successful implementation of national chronic disease management program.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.50-61
• /
• 2020

Background: This study aims to analyze the effects of air pollutants, such as particular matter, to the number of outpatient visits for allergic rhinitis in eup, myeon, and dong administrative boundaries. Methods: Dependent variable was the number of outpatient visits for allergic rhinitis per 10,000 people by region. Independent variables were air pollutants such as PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, O₃, CO₂, NO₂, and temperature that estimated by using Kriging analysis in all eup, myeon, and dong boundaries. Panel analysis was applied for the analysis to prove the relation between outpatient visits and the concentration of air pollutants. Results: Analysis results showed that particular matter concentration varied by regions and season. Panel analysis showed that outpatient visits for allergic rhinitis had positive relationships with PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, O₃, and CO₂ in all panel models. Conclusion: Regional variation of particular matter concentration should be considered in establishing regional policies for allergic rhinitis.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2007

Various changes in medical environments including growing elderly population, chronic diseases, deepening competition among hospitals since opening to foreign medical service, economic strategy for improvement of profit system have caused hospitals to be specialized. In this backgrounds, the purpose of this study is to receive basic data for architectural planning on the spatial organization of outpatient department in general hospital. The results of this study were as follows; First, major changes of outpatient department in general hospital are composed of 'co-work in medical examination and treatment', 'decentralization of diagnosis and treatment(D/T)' and 'patient-oriented medical service'. Changes by co-work system include appearance of medical offices for co-work, activation of specialized clinics, grouping of E/T section for outpatient and various types of specialized centers. Second, the grouping of E/T sections means the modification of E/T system and organization in general hospitals, and a new spatial organization will be needed. Third, the types of specialized centers are getting varied. they are classified into several types including disease-resource, social stratum-resource, human organ-resource, health-resource, rehabilitation-resource, alternative medical center and so on.

• Journal of the Regional Association of Architectural Institute of Korea
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.11-21
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to present an analysis model for finding the correlation between visibility and evacuation time as users move in the outpatient department of the general hospital. The spatial scope of the study was limited to the first floor and second floor which are used for the outpatient department. Traffic density in outpatient departments was surveyed on site. Based on the surveyed traffic density, the evacuation simulation model was established for calculating the escape route and evacuation time for an individual user. The traffic density of the outpatient department as per the evacuation time was also calculated. With using evacuation simulations, the flow of evacuees was calculated through the density of traffic over the time of evacuation. Visibility data were set in the simulation model for users' escape routes. A correlation analysis between the product of evacuation flow measure and visibility measure of the evacuation population and evacuation time was performed. The analysis result showed negative correlation within a specific distance range. This study presented an analysis model showing that the evacuation condition considering spatial visibility in the outpatient department of general hospital visibility was negatively related to the analyzed evacuation time at the design stage.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.259-270
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify nursing competencies of outpatient nurses, to develop a tool to assess the same, and to verify the validity and reliability of the tool. Method: Preliminary items of the scale were developed based on a literature review and nurses' interviews. The tool's content validity was verified by an expert panel and by conducting a pilot study. Subsequently, to verify the validity and reliability of the scale, data were collected from 233 outpatient nurses from 7 certified tertiary hospitals. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, independent t-test, and internal consistency and correlation analysis. Result: The factor analysis revealed the following 9 factors for the 48 items of the scale: organizational management, customer orientation, personality and ethics, problem solving, nursing practice, interpersonal relationships, communication, crisis management, and professionalism. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the final instrument was .97. Conclusion: The tool developed in this study exhibited adequate validity and reliability. It was effective in reflecting the changing roles of outpatient nurses. Therefore, in future, this tool is expected to help improve outpatient nurses' competencies and nursing quality.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2009

문제: 본원의 외래 상황은 진료의가 짧은 시간 내에 많은 환자를 진료해야 하고, 진료 환자 모두에게 충분히 만족하도록 설명해주는 것은 매우 어려운 실정이었다. 2007년의 의료기관 본 평가에 앞서 병원 자체 평가 결과 외래환자의 설명 만족도는 57점으로 저조하였다. 목적: "이해하기 쉽게 설명하는 서울대학교 병원" 이라는 슬로건 하에 설명간호사 제도를 운영하기 시작하여, 설명간호사실 운영 활성화를 통한 외래 환자 만족도를 향상시키고자 한다. 의료기관: 서울시 종로구에 소재한 대학병원 질 향상 활동: 설명간호사실 방문율 증가 및 one-stop service care을 실현할 수 있는 방안을 모색하였고, 검사 시행 이유, 귀가 후 주의사항 검사 결과, 검사일정 외래 진료 안내 브로셔 및 표준화된 교육 자료를 개발하였다. 또한 설명간호사의 역할 및 업무의 확립을 위한 업무기술서를 개발 및 설명간호사실 환경을 개선하였다. 개선효과: 설명간호사실의 방문율이 내과는 2배, 신경과는 3배 정도 증가하였다. 표준화된 교육 자료 개발로 설명 요구도를 충족시켰고, '환자의 알 권리'와 '설명을 들을 권리'를 보장하였다. 업무기술서 개발로 설명간호사의 업무 및 역할을 확립하였으며 설명간호사실의 환경 개선으로 개인 신상 비밀을 보호받을 권리를 보장하였다. 외래 설명만족도가 2007년 57점에서 2008년 74점으로 향상되었다. 설명간호사실 자체 설문조사에서도 97%가 만족한다고 답하였고, 100% 모두 재방문 의사를 보였다. one-stop service care를 제공함으로써 외래가 복잡하다는 부정적인 이미지를 긍정적인 이미지로 변화시켰다.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.351-356
• /
• 2023

Background: Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is uncommon, but growing in incidence. Traditionally an inpatient operation, a growing number are performed outpatient, consistent with general trends in orthopedic surgery. The aim of this study was to compare TEA outcomes between inpatient and outpatient surgical settings. Secondarily, we sought to identify patient characteristics that predict the operative setting. Methods: Patient data were collected from the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program. Preoperative variables, including patient demographics and comorbidities, were recorded, and baseline differences were assessed via multivariate regression to predict operative setting. Multivariate regression was also used to compare postoperative complications within 30 days. Results: A total of 468 patients, 303 inpatient and 165 outpatient procedures, were identified for inclusion. Hypoalbuminemia (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; P=0.029), history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or pneumonia (OR, 2.4; P=0.029), and diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.5; P=0.001) were significantly associated with inpatient TEA, as were greater odds of any complication (OR, 4.1; P<0.001) or adverse discharge (OR, 4.5; P<0.001) and decreased odds of reoperation (OR, 0.4; P=0.037). Conclusions: Patients undergoing inpatient TEA are generally more comorbid, and inpatient surgery is associated with greater odds of complications and adverse discharge. However, we found higher rates of reoperation in outpatient TEA. Our findings suggest outpatient TEA is safe, although patients with a higher comorbidity burden may require inpatient surgery. Level of evidence: III.

• Hip & pelvis
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.227-235
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Outpatient classified total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a safe option for a select group of patients. An analysis of a national database was conducted to understand the risk factors for unplanned discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or acute rehabilitation (rehab) after outpatient classified THA. Materials and Methods: A query of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for THA (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] 27130) performed from 2015 to 2018 was conducted. Patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, functional status, NSQIP morbidity probability, operative time, length of stay (LOS), 30-day reoperation rate, readmission rate, and associated complications were collected. Results: A total of 2,896 patients underwent outpatient classified THA. The mean age of patients was 61.2 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.6 kg/m² with median ASA 2. The results of univariate comparison of SNF/rehab versus home discharge showed that a significantly higher percentage of females (58.7% vs. 46.8%), age >70 years (49.3% vs. 20.9%), ASA ≥3 (58.0% vs. 25.8%), BMI >35 kg/m² (23.3% vs. 16.2%), and hypoalbuminemia (8.0% vs. 1.5%) (P<0.0001) were discharged to SNF/rehab. The results of multivariable logistic regression showed that female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.47; P=0.03), age >70 years (OR 3.08; P=0.001), ASA≥3 (OR 2.56; P=0.001), and preoperative hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) (OR 3.76; P=0.001) were independent risk factors for SNF/rehab discharge. Conclusion: Risk factors associated with discharge to a SNF/rehab after outpatient classified THA were identified. Surgeons will be able to perform better risk stratification for patients who may require additional postoperative intervention.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed at revising the Korean Out-patient Groups for Korean Medicine (KOPG-OM, version 1.0) based on clinical similarity and resource use, by using the accumulated claims data, and evaluating the validity of the revised classification system. Methods: A clinical specialist panel involving 19 specialists from 8 Korean medicine (KM) specialty areas reviewed the classification tree, diagnosis groups and procedure groups in terms of clinical similarity. Several models of outpatient grouping were formulated, with the validity of each tested based on the $R^2$ coefficient of determination for the treatment costs of all visits. To add age splits, the variances of treatment costs by age groups were also analyzed. These statistical analyses were performed using KM claims data of National Health Insurance from 2010 to 2012. Results: The classification tree designed via panel discussions was used to allocate outpatient cases to 26 diagnosis groups, with cases involving procedures such as acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping, then allocated to 9 procedure groups in each diagnosis group. The cases without procedures were categorized into the visit index - medication group. This process resulted in 298 outpatient groups. The $R^2$ values for treatment costs of all visits ranged from 0.38 to 0.69 depending on the providers' types. Conclusions: The revised model of KOPG-KM has a higher validity for outpatient classification than the current system and can provide better management of the costs of outpatient care in KM.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.46-55
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Outpatient treatment orders refer to a mandatory social program in which mentally ill persons are ordered by the court to participate in specified outpatient treatment programs. This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect outpatient treatment orders and adherence to outpatient treatment in mental health patients. Methods : A survey on outpatient treatment orders and adherence to outpatient treatment was conducted on 60 psychiatrists between October and November 2016. The questionnaire items were drafted based on a literature review, and they were then evaluated by 3 psychiatrists and 1 law school professor before being finalized. Answers from the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the median, maximum, and minimum values of the effectiveness scores of outpatient treatment orders were calculated. Results : Among the 60 psychiatrists, 45(75.0%) were aware of outpatient treatment orders; however, only 2 out of the 45(4.0%) had actually used the program in the last 12 months. The subjective effectiveness was very low, with only 40 points out of 100. Furthermore, of the readmitted patients, 37.7% had received continued outpatient treatment, whereas 53.1% chose to quit the outpatient treatment programs, meaning that the number of dropouts was higher. Among the discharged patients, approximately two-thirds were receiving continued treatment. With regard to follow-up for dropouts, majority of the responses were either "Not taking any action"(n=27) or "Not following up"(n=15). Only two respondents answered "Contact the community mental health promotion center," meaning that this response was very rare. Meanwhile, when asked about efficient measures to be implemented for dropouts, a vast majority of the respondents(n=30) selected the answer "Work with the community mental health promotion center." Conclusions : The outpatient treatment orders currently being administered were found to be ineffective, and the associated adherence to outpatient treatment was also found to be extremely poor. Hence, the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions could benefit from institutional as well as administrative improvements. Community mental health promotion centers are expected to have an important role in the future.