• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.125-136
• /
• 2022

The costliness index (CI) is an index that is used in various ways to improve the quality of medical care and the management of appropriate treatment in medical institutions. However, the current calculation method for CI has a limitation in reflecting the actual medical cost of the patient unit because the outpatient and inpatient costs are evaluated separately. It is desirable to calculate the CI by integrating the medical cost into the episode unit. We developed an episode-based CI method using the episode classification system of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the National Inpatient Sample data in Korea, which can integrate the admission and ambulatory care cost to episode unit. Additionally, we compared our new method with the previous method. In some episodes, the correlation between previous and episode-based CI was low, and the proportion of outpatient treatment costs in total cost and readmission rates are high. As a result of regression analysis, it is possible that the level of total medical costs of the patient unit in low volume medical institute and rural area has been underestimated. High proportion of outpatient treatment cost in total medical cost means that some medical institutions may have provided medical services in the ambulatory care that are ancillary to inpatient treatment. In addition, a high readmission rate indicates insufficient treatment service for inpatients, which means that previous CI may not accurately reflect actual patient-based treatment costs. Therefore, an integrated patient-unit classification system which can be used as a more effective CI indicator is needed.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.87-106
• /
• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the association between process quality of inpatient care and risk-adjusted, thirty-day potentially preventable hospital readmission (PPR) rates. Data Sources/Study Setting: This was an observational cross-sectional study of nonfederal acute-care hospitals located in two states California and Florida, discharging Medicare patients with a principal discharge diagnosis of heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia January through December 31, 2007. Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare database, and the American Hospital Association Annual Survey of Hospitals. Study Design: The dependent variable of this study is condition-specific, risk-adjusted, thirty-day potentially preventable hospital readmission (PPR). 3M's PPR software was utilized to determine whether a readmission was potentially preventable. The independent variable of this study is hospital performance for process quality of inpatient care, measured by hospital adherence to recommended processes of care. We used multivariate hierarchical logistic models, clustered by hospitals, to examine the relationship between condition-specific, risk-adjusted, thirty-day PPR rates and process quality of inpatient care, after taking clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of patients and structural and operational characteristics of hospitals into account. Findings: Better performance on the process quality metrics was associated with better patient outcome (i.e., low thirty-day PPR rates) in pneumonia, but not generally in two cardiovascular conditions (i.e., heart failure and acute myocardial infarction). Practical Implication: Adherence to the process quality metrics currently in use by CMS is associated with risk-adjusted, thirty-day PPR rates for patients with pneumonia, but not with cardiovascular conditions. More evidence-based process quality metrics closely linked to 30-day PPR rates, particularly for cardiovascular conditions, need to be developed to serve as a guideline to reduce potentially preventable readmissions.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.376-387
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study was to systematically review the contents and effects of nurse-led transitional care programs for discharged patients from hospital to home. Methods: Randomized controlled trials published between 2005 and 2015 were searched in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane(Central Register of Controlled Trials) and CINAHL. Data were analyzed using Cochrane Review Manager(Revman) software 5.3. Results: Nine studies were selected and analyzed. Patient assessment, education and discharge planning were included in pre-discharge phase. Referring, communication and care planning were performed by nurses in transition phase. Home and phone visits, monitoring and multidisciplinary advices were included in post-discharge phase. Various outcome measures such as hospital utilization(30 days readmission and emergency department visit), quality of life, and cost were used to identify effectiveness of nurse-led transitional care programs. 30 days readmission(OR=.73, 95% CI 0.54, 0.98; p=.03) and emergency department visit(OR=.67, 95% CI 0.50, 0.88; p=.005) were statistically significant in meta-analysis. However, participant blinding was not done in seven studies which put at the risk of performance bias. Conclusion: The results indicated that nurse-led transitional care program is effective in reducing unnecessary hospital utilization. Nevertheless, small sample size and risk at performance bias are the limitation of this study. Thus, we suggest that well-designed randomized controlled trials need to be conducted.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.69 no.4
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2010

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with recurrent hospital admissions for exacerbation of COPD in Korea. Methods: A retrospective study of 77 consecutive patients hospitalized for exacerbation of COPD at Pusan National University Hospital during the time period January 2005 to May 2008 was performed. The information was collected from the hospitalization period: clinical information, spirometric measures, and laboratory variables. In addition, socioeconomic characteristics, co-morbidity, anxiety, and depression were reviewed. Frequent readmission was defined as 2 or more hospitalizations in the year following discharge. Results: During the 1-year period after discharge, 42 patients (54.6%) reported one hospital admission and 35 patients (45.4%) reported 2 or more hospital readmissions. Among the 35 frequent readmission patients, 4 had more than 10 readmissions. Univariate analysis showed that a body mass index (BMI) <$18.5kg/m^2$, duration >36 months, forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) <50% predicted, arterial $CO_2$ partial pressure ($PaCO_2$) >40 mm Hg, and arterial oxygen saturation ($SaO_2$) <95% at discharge were associated significantly with frequent readmissions. The multivariate analysis revealed that BMI <$18.5kg/m^2$, $PaCO_2$ >40 mm Hg at discharge were independently associated with frequent readmissions for exacerbation of COPD. Conclusion: Frequent readmissions for exacerbation of COPD were associated with low BMI and hypercapnia at discharge.

• Acute and Critical Care
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.252-259
• /
• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using a systematic approach to tracheostomy care by a clinical nurse specialist and surgical intensivists for patients with a tracheostomy who were transferred from the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) to the general ward. Methods: In this retrospective study, subjects were limited to SICU patients with a tracheostomy who were transferred to the general ward. The study period was divided into a preintervention period (January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010) and a postintervention period (January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014), and electronic medical records were used to analyze and compare patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and readmission to the SICU. Results: The analysis included 44 patients in the preintervention group and 96 patients in the postintervention group. Decannulation time ($26.7{\pm}25.1$ vs. $12.1{\pm}16.0days$, P=0.003), length of stay in the general ward ($70.6{\pm}89.1$ vs. $40.5{\pm}42.2days$, P=0.008), length of total hospital stay ($107.5{\pm}95.6$ vs. $74.7{\pm}51.2days$, P=0.009), and readmission rate of SICU decreased due to T-cannula occlusion (58.8% vs. 5.9%, P=0.010). Conclusions: Using a systematic approach to tracheostomy care in the general ward led to reduction in decannulation time through professional management, which resulted in a shorter hospital stay. It also lowered SICU readmission by solving problems related to direct T-cannula.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.559-569
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was to examine the reliability and validity of Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) as a nutritional measurement for stroke patients. Methods: This was a methodological study performed from May 6 to June 10, 2009 at a tertiary university hospital in Seoul. For reliability of PG-SGA, inter-rater reliability was used for statistics. For concurrent validity, BMI and biomarkers were compared between PG-SGA 0 ~ 8 and ${\geq}$ 9. In addition, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of PG-SGA compared with SGA were calculated using a contingency table. For predictive validity, hospital day, complications, and readmission within 1-month after discharge were compared between PG-SGA 0 ~ 8 and ${\geq}$ 9. Results: Correlation of PG-SGA score between two observers was 0.83, and kappa value for the agreement of severe malnutrition was 0.78(all $p_s$ < .001). The scored PG-SGA showed high sensitivity and specificity (100% and 96.7%, respectively). Severe undernourished patients (PG-SGA ${\geq}$ 9) had significantly low TLC, protein, albumin, and prealbumin (all $p_s$ < .01) compared with non-undernourished patients (PG-SGA 0 ~ 8). Also, in severe undernourished patients, complications and readmission (all $p_s$ = 0.01) were more often represented, and hospital days (p = .013) were significantly delayed. Conclusion: PG-SGA is a reliable and valid measurement to assess nutritional status for stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.31-42
• /
• 1977

This study investigated the anxiety of families of psychiatric patients at discharge. The purpose was to contribute to the improvement of psychiatric nursing care, rehabilitation and social adjustment of psychiatric patients and community mental health. The objectives of this study were to identify the acceptance of the psychiatric nurse by the families, their anxiety at the time of discharge, whether any help was wanted to reduce anxiety, the attitude toward the patient after discharge and feelings about the patients. The population studied consisted of 180 family members of patients from 10 mental hospitals (including local clinic) in Seoul and Kyung- Ki province, from March I to April 30, 1977. The date were collected by an interview schedule, and compared and analysed by Computer usings х$^2$- test. Results were as follows : 1. Many of the families(83.6%) expressed a acceptance of psychiatric nurse. 2. A little more than half of the families(51.1%) expressed happiness but a largo portion (38.9%) had "anxious" feelings at discharge. 3. Almost all families(92.6%) wanted a physician′s help to reduce discharge anxiety. Younger families tended to want the physician′s help more. 4. Many of the families(83.1%) wanted a nurse′s help. Families of parents patients admitted for the 1 st time wanted the nurse′s help more. 5. Comparing the feelings at a previous discharge with the present discharge, 49.1% of the family expressed greater happiness at tile latter than the former. 6. More than half the families responded positively toward the patient. Unmarried family members responded more positively than married Families of 1 st admission patients responded more positively than families of readmission patients. 7. Many families(78.8%)had positively feelings toward the patients. More negative responses came from women than from men, from lower education levels, lower incomes and readmission patients.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.135-147
• /
• 2016

Background: The voluntary diagnosis-related groups (DRG)-based payment system was introduced in 2002 and the government mandated participation in the DRG for all hospitals from July 2013. The main purpose of this study is to examine the independent effect of mandatory participation in DRG on various outcomes of patients. Methods: This study collected 1,809,948 inpatient DRG data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database which contains medical information for all patients for the period 2007 to 2014 and examined patient outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), total medical cost, spillover, and readmission rate according to hospital size. Results: LOS of patients decreased after DRGs (large hospitals: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.97; small hospitals: aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.91-0.92). The total medical cost of patients increased after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.30; small hospitals: aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.21-1.23). The results reveals that spillover of patients increased after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.70-2.33; small hospitals: aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.16-1.20). Finally, we found that readmission rates of patients decreased significantly after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.26-0.29; small hospitals: aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56-0.63). Conclusion: The DRG payment system compared to fee-for-service payment in South Korea may be an alternative medical price policy which can reduce the LOS. However, government need to monitor inappropriate changes such as spillover increase. Since this study also is the results based on relatively simple surgery, insurer needs to compare or review bundled payment like new DRG for expansion of various inpatient-related diseases including internal medicine.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.254-258
• /
• 1982

We have experienced one case of Redo AVR which was performed 13 months after initial operation. The patient had received AVR [Bjork-Shiley disc valve] and MVR [Ionescu-Shiley tissue valve] because of ASI and MSI at March, 1981. During follow up through the OPD, he complained exertional dyspnea and progressive jaundice with hemolytic anemia was also noticed since 1 month prior to readmission. Cardiac catheterization and angiography revealed periaortic valvular leakage due to partial detachment of previously replaced prosthetic aortic valve. Re-replacement of prosthetic aortic valve with Ionescu-Shiley valve was performed and the patient was discharged at 17th POD without any complications.

• Obstetrics & gynecology science
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.675-683
• /
• 2018

Objective This study aimed to evaluate patient-reported satisfaction following robot-assisted hysterectomy due to benign uterine disease, and to identify the factors associated. Methods We used a questionnaire to evaluate patients' satisfaction with robot-assisted hysterectomy. The questions concerned overall patient-reported satisfaction and specific factors affecting satisfaction, including postoperative pain, return to daily life, the hospital experience, wounds, cost, the doctor-patient relationship, whether expectations were met, and whether detailed information was provided. We also collected data from patient records, such as uterine weight, rate of pelvic adhesion, operation time, rate of transfusion, delayed discharge, and readmission. One hundred patients who underwent robot-assisted hysterectomy participated in the study. Seventy-three fully completed questionnaires were returned. Results The majority of patients (95.9%) were satisfied with robot-assisted hysterectomy. The doctor-patient relationship, whether expectations were met, the hospital experience, wounds, and whether detailed information was provided were statistically significant factors influencing patients' overall satisfaction. Payment of fees and clinical and surgical outcomes did not significantly influence patients' overall satisfaction. Conclusion Our findings show that most patients reported high levels of satisfaction following robot-assisted hysterectomy, regardless of cost or clinical and surgical outcomes. Therefore, if gynecologists consider robot-assisted hysterectomy suitable for patients they need not hesitate based on potential costs; they should feel confident in recommending the procedure to patients.