• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2018

The most widely used method of pain control in dental practice is to block the pathway of painful impulses by local anesthesia. For a maximum effect of pain control at outpatient minor operation, regional anesthesia including nerve block must be performed. This issue includes various dental local anesthetic techniques on mandible, maxilla and considerations for selection of dental local anesthetics according to patient's age, duration of operation. Additionally, current conscious sedation technique combined with local anesthesia will be introduced for control of patient's anxiousness. Based on patient's general condition, severity of operation, local anesthesia sometimes must be changed into general anesthesia to avoid failure of dental practice. The exact choice of anesthetic techniques for minor operations at dental outpatient clinic must not be underestimated for complete success of pain control.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.37-49
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of competition between Public Health Centers (PHCs) and private clinics (PCs) by examining the number of patients that used PHCs vs. PCs, estimating the total amount of revenue generated from outpatient services at both PHCs and PCs, thereby analyzing the financial impacts on PCs derived from the PHCs. We utilized 2011 National Inpatient Sample data (NIS). Using the 20 table containing general information on each individual claims, we integrate it with the 40 table which contains all the diagnostic codes for each claim. Then, we disaggregate the bundled claims into the original individual claims. Overall, 3.1% of outpatient visits are made at PHCs while the rest was made at the PCs (96.9%). Among the total claim costs of 6.34 billion USD (as of 2011), PHCs occupy 2.0% (124 million USD), and 98.0% are contributed to PCs (6.21 billion USD). The estimated economic losses of PCs due to PHCs are summarized as follow; the maximum potential loss is estimated at 198 million USD in total and 7,099 USD per clinic when we include all patient types; the minimum loss is estimated at 71 million USD in total and 2,540 USD per clinic where Medical Aid recipients and the elderly (aged 65 and over) are excluded. Our results confirm the potential economic effect on PCs due to PHCs providing outpatient services. PCs and PHCs are the most important players providing primary care in Korea. Unnecessary competition between PCs and PHCs is not desirable. Health authorities should carefully examine the healthcare services currently provided by PHCs and their impacts on PCs.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2022

Purpose: Based on the results of Grandey's Emotion Regulation Process Model and previous studies, this study was conducted to identify the relationship between emotional labor, communication competency, emotional intelligence, social support, and burnout, and to identify factors affecting burnout of nurses in outpatient department. Method: The participants were 190 nurses with more than six months of experience working at the outpatient department of a general hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from April 5 to May 28, 2021, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0. Results: Significant variables affecting burnout were emotional labor, communication competency, emotional intelligence, education, and total clinical experience. Social support showed a statistically significant negative correlation with burnout, but did not affect burnout. Burnout showed a statistically significant a positive correlation with emotional labor, and showed a negative correlation with communication competency, emotional intelligence and social support. We found a negative correlation between burnout and subjective health status. Emotional labor had a positive effect on burnout. Emotional intelligence, clinical experience for more than 10 years, communication competency, and education for masters or higher negatively affected burnout, respectively. They accounted for 49.2% of the total variance of burnout. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to reduce emotional labor, one of the major predictors of burnout for outpatient care. In order to prevent emotional labor that results in burnout, an integrated program that improves emotional intelligence and communication competency should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.83-108
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• 2010

This study aims to estimate the trajectory of outpatient medical service use and examine what factors are associated with the trajectory among older adults 60 and over with specific focuses on age variations. Using the first three waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study data, the trajectory and predictors were examined through the Latent Growth Curve Modeling and age variations were examined through the Multi-group Comparison Analyses. The research model was developed based on the Anderson Model. The results showed that study participants tend to increase outpatient medical service use with years. Individuals 75 or younger presented a much faster increasing rate of medical service use than those 75 and over. Similar to the findings of the previous studies, most predisposing factors, resource factors, and needs factors were found to be associated with the trajectory of outpatient medical service use. Needs factors were more closely associated with the medical service use trajectory than resource factors. With regard to age variations in predictors, few significant age variations were found. Based on the finding of the study, implications and future research directions were discussed.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2019

Purpose: Analysis on the spatial configuration characteristics of dental department in medical center through examining outpatient department of medical center is necessary for the development of architectural planning of the dental healthcare system in Korea. This study has been performed to provide data for the planning of hospital architecture. Methods: Literature review of dental healthcare system and investigation on current status of dental department in medical center have been conducted. The plan and spatial configuration of seven medical centers in Seoul area have been analyzed. Results: The result of this study can be summarized in four points. The first one is that the clinical dental spaces are classified by dental school's dental hospital, dental department in medical center, dental hospital, private dental clinic, and public dental healthcare center in Korea. The second one is that the dental department in medical center is a result from medical law regulation and it is specified and subdivided with dental specialist system. The third one is that the types of the dental department in medical center are divided into independent type or comprehensive type according to the relationship with main outpatient department. The fourth one is that the spatial configuration of dental department in medical center is planned with 5-7 specialized departments and they are allocated in the dental department. Implications: In addition to the spatial configuration of dental department in medical center, it is necessary to analyze the other factors like circulation, relationship with other facilities in medical center to develop the dental healthcare system.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.196-210
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• 2024

Background: In January 2018, revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment for the elderly were implemented. When people ages 65 years and older receive outpatient treatment at clinic-level medical institutions (clinic, dental clinic, Korean medicine clinic), with medical expenses exceeding 15,000 won but not exceeding 25,000 won, their copayment rates have decreased differentially from 30%. This study aimed to examine the changes of health utilization of elderly after revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. Methods: We used Korea health panel data from 2016 to 2018. The time period is divided into before and after the revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. We conducted Poisson segmented regression to estimate the changes in outpatient utilization and inpatient utilization and conducted segmented regression to estimate the changes in medical expenses. Results: Immediately after the revised policy, the number of clinic and Korean medicine outpatient visits of medical expenses under 15,000 won decreased. But the number of clinic outpatient visits in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 won and Korean medicine clinic in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 won increased. Copayment in outpatient temporarily decreased. The inpatient admission rates and total medical expenses temporarily decreased but increased again. Conclusion: We confirmed the temporary increase in outpatient utilization in the medical expense segment with reduced copayment rates. And a temporary decrease in medical expenses followed by an increase again. To reduce the burden of medical expense among elderly in the long run, efforts to establish chronic disease management policies aimed at preventing disease occurrence and deterioration in advance need to continue.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.345-352
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• 2020

This study conducted a survey targeting 414 medical institution workers to identify the impacts of their emotional labor and the recognition level of medical service fee reduction influencing the reduction rate. The results were as follows. First, a review of the difference in the reduction rate by socio-demographic characteristics revealed that in both inpatient and outpatient reduction rate, there is a significant difference in the occupational description, working history at the current hospital, and the numbers of approved beds. Second, there is a correlation between emotional labor, the recognition level of medical service fee reduction, and the reduction rate. As a result of the analysis, there is a significant positive correlation between emotional labor and outpatient reduction rate, a significant negative correlation between the recognition level of medical service fee reduction and inpatient reduction rate, and a significant negative correlation between the recognition level of medical service fee reduction and outpatient reduction rate. Third, emotional labor has a significant positive effect on the inpatient reduction rate, and the recognition level of the medical service fee reduction has a negative effect on the inpatient reduction rate. The emotional labor also has a significant positive effect on outpatient reduction rate, and the recognition level of the medical service fee reduction has a significant negative effect on outpatient reduction rate.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.43-56
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• 2019

Purpose: Importance of patient satisfaction related to patient-centeredness has been emphasized, and it is known to have effect on various health outcomes including health resource utilization. However, the effect of patient satisfaction has been discussed mostly in terms of hospital marketing in Korea. This study aims to examine the effect of patient satisfaction in patient-physician communication on healthcare utilization in a nationally representative adult population of South Korea. Method: Patient satisfaction with physician communication is assessed using 4 items in the 2011 Korea Health Panel Survey. Generalized linear regression analysis is conducted using 9,325 adults' healthcare utilization in 2012. Findings: Adjusting for the socio-demographic, economic factors, individual health status, health behaviors and healthcare utilization in 2011, more satisfied individuals, more likely to utilize the outpatient service, especially in clinical setting. Practical Implications: The study findings suggests that in context of South Korea healthcare system such as insufficient medical consultation time and the absence of health delivery system, patient satisfaction as a subjective healthcare quality indicator would have effect on the individual's outpatient visit. This study contributes to stimulate patient satisfaction research and discussion in South Korea to further explore its relationship with potential and various health related outcomes. Further implications of the study are discussed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.255-260
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• 2018

Most patients and parents and guardians display frequent anxiety due to radiation exposure during outpatient, ward, and pediatric general radiographic examinations. This is a behavior that perceives only the harmfulness of radiation. For the recognition of medical radiation, we conduct surveys on outpatients, inpatients, and pediatric parents and guardians to identify their awareness, and then use the radiation dose promotional materials After providing accurate information on the use of radiation, the outpatient, inpatient, and pediatric parents and guardians were asked to explain the change in awareness. The questionnaire items were classified into five categories: repetitive radiation awareness for diagnosis, awareness of exposure dose, availability of exposure information, awareness of radiation risk, and awareness of health problems caused by radiation. There was a statistically significant difference in the items of recognition result of medical radiation, although there was a slight difference in the individual items in the pre and post-recognition results of providing information about the radiologists of the protector and the outpatient(p<0.05). Therefore, through the installation of these promotional materials, we will improve our awareness of medical radiation safety during general radiography surveillance in the Department of Radiology to provide better quality medical information and medical services, thereby contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of the hospital.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.516-523
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the causal relationships of perceived risk, satisfaction, switching cost and loyalty in outpatient health services. Method: A survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted with 393 hospital outpatients. The analysis of data was done with both SPSS Win 17.0 for descriptive statistics and AMOS 18.0 for structural equation model. Results: The causal model yielded Chi-square=31.44 (p=<.001), df=4, GFI=.98, AGFI=.87, CFI=.97, RMSR=.04, NFI=.96, IFI=.97 and showed relatively good fit indices. Perceived risk had a significant direct effect on customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction, financial switching cost and relational switching cost had significant direct effects on customer loyalty. Perceived risk and customer satisfaction had significant indirect effects on customer loyalty. Conclusion: These results suggest that we should decrease the perceived risk and improve the customer satisfaction and switching cost to retain loyal customers. Further study with both a larger sample from various hospitals and a longitudinal design is necessary.