• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.73-93
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• 2022

Background: Appropriate physician workforce projection through reasonable discussions and decisions with a broad view on supply and demand of the workforce, thus, is very important for high-quality healthcare services. The study expects to provide preliminary research data on the workforce diagnosis standard model for Korean physician workforce policy decision through more flexible and objective physician workforce projection in reflection of diverse changes in healthcare policy and sociodemographic environments. Methods: A low flow rate through the causal map was developed, and an objective workforce demand projection from 2019 to 2040 was conducted. In addition, projections by scenarios under various situations were conducted with the low flow rate developed in the study. Lastly, the demand projection of the physician workforce by region of 17 cities and provinces was conducted. Results: First, demand of physicians in 2019 was 110,665, 113,450 in 2020, 129,496 in 2025, 146,837 in 2030, 163,719 in 2035, and 179,288 in 2040. Second, the scenario for the retirement of baby boomers led to a decrease in the growth rate due to time delay. Third, Seoul and Gyeonggi-do account for a high percentage of demand, a very high upward trend was identified in Gyeonggi-do, and as a result, the projection showed that the demand of the physician workforce in Gyeonggi-do would worsen over time. Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that rational and collective physician workforce supply and demand and its imbalance in workforce distribution were verified through various projections by scenarios and regions of Korea with System Dynamics.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2017

Background: In Korea, the problem of physician workforce imbalances has been a debated issue for a long time. This study aimed to draw key lessons and policy implications to Korea by analyzing projection models of physician demand/supply among five countries. Methods: We adopted theoretical framework and analyzed detail indicators used in projection models of demand/supply comparatively among countries. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar with key search terms and it was complimented with hand searching of grey literature in Korean or English. Results: As a results, Korea has been used a supply-based traditional approach without taking various variables or environmental factors influencing on demand/supply into consideration. The projection models of USA and Netherlands which considered the diversity of variables and political issues is the most closest integrated approach. Based on the consensus of stakeholder, the evolved integrated forecasting approach which best suits our nation is needed to minimize a wasteful debate related to physician demand/supply. Also it is necessary to establish the national level statistics indices and database about physician workforce. In addition, physician workforce planning will be discussed periodically. Conclusion: We expect that this study will pave the way to seek reasonable and developmental strategies of physician workforce planning.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-117
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• 2023

The issue of increasing the number of physicians is emerging. Because the physician workforce is a critical component of the health care system, and substantial costs are involved in training personnel, a cautious approach is required. The demand to increase the number of physicians is based on the contention that there are difficulties in accessing essential health services and the need to prepare for future demands such as fostering physician-scientists. However, simply increasing the number of physicians is not an appropriate approach to address these demands, especially considering that the effects of such an increase will appear 10 years later. Moreover, it is concerned that the current argument for increasing the physician workforce is intertwined with political interests. When considering the impact on the health care system, decisions regarding the expansion of the physician workforce should be based on evidence. Additionally, rather than temporarily responding to social issues, it is expected that a governance system will be established to continuously discuss and decide on fostering medical personnel.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2020

There is a noticeable gap in the personnel structures of clinical laboratories between North Korea and South Korea. In North Korea, 'Laboratory Doctor' is similar to the workforce of 'Medical Technologist (commonly known as Clinical Laboratory Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist)' in South Korea. Considering preceding research based on the verbal evidence of North Korean healthcare personnel defectors, it is estimated that the status of laboratory doctor in North Korea generally corresponds to physician and feldsher (such as physician assistant in Western countries). Physicians and feldshers are trained and fostered for five and a half years in medical universities and for three years in medical vocational schools (so-called junior college of medicine). Unlike South Korea, the North Korea's healthcare personnel system does not subdivide the tasks, education, qualifications and law regarding the specialties of health experts. It is thought that the Korean Association of Medical Technologists needs to collaboratively search and present the milestones for establishment of a professional system on clinical laboratory personnel in North Korea through cooperative research on policies with the related organizations for better preparation of the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.398-404
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• 2010

Purpose: Concerns had been voiced about an oversupply of optometrists in Korea. So, this study aimed to forecast the supply and demand for opticians for policy implications. Methods: Baseline Projection model combined with demographic method was adopted as the supply forecasting method and so was a ratio method using the number of physician and population using weight of healthcare utilization. Results: Under the 'physician to optician ratio', there would be a surplus of 83~700 opticians in 2010 and an undersupply of 15 to surplus of 6,118 opticians in 2025. Under the 'population to optician ratio', there would be a surplus of 1,055 opticians in 2010 and surplus of 9,376 opticians in 2025. Conclusions: We concluded that there would be oversupply for opticians until 2025, although the shortage and surplus of opticians might depend on the ratio's criteria. Hence, policies would need to be developed that could solve the imbalance in requirements and supply for opticians.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2024

From February to now 2024, there continues to be controversy over the expansion of admission number to medical school. Some of the controversy arises from a mix of present and future time points. In the present time point, the controversy over whether physicians are some shortages or not has various aspects. Some aspects are presented as evidence of the physician shortage and others as non-shortage. Also, the presenting evidence of shortage is being disputed, and so is the evidence of the contrary. This controversy over whether there is a shortage or not in the present time point makes it difficult to reach a consensus. In 10 years, the shortage of doctors will increase due to the rapid increase in the elderly population, so the admission number of medical schools will need to be increased. However, the increase must be such that there is minimal deterioration in the quality of medical education. More admission numbers should be allocated to medical schools with a high quality of medical education. This study suggests that large-scale medical schools increase the admission number by 20%-30%, and small-scale medical schools increase the admission number by 40%-50%, if so, the total increasing number is 760 to 1,066. If the 2,000-person increase is enforced, the quality of medical education must be carefully evaluated and the results should be reflected in adjusting the admission number of medical schools. In 20 years later, the admission number of medical schools will have to be reduced. This is because the physician supply is changing to a linear function and the physician demand (medical care demand) is changing to a quadratic function. Even if the current number is maintained, there will be an excess of doctors from 2048, so the medical school admission number must be reduced and its size will be reduced to about 2,000, a 30% reduction from the current number. Because the same reduction rate for all medical schools will result in many small-scale medical schools, the M&A (mergers and acquisitions) strategy should be considered with 40 medical schools and 12 Korean medical schools. In Korea, the main contributor to estimating physician demand is the change in population structure. Due to the rapid decrease in the total fertility rate, future population projections are uncertain. The recent rapid increase in healthcare utilization should be reexamined in the forecasting of physician demand. Since the various factors that affect the estimate of doctor supply and demand are unclear, the estimate of physician supply and demand must be continuously conducted every five years, and the Health Care Workforce Committee must be established and operated. The effects of increasing the admission number of medical schools should be evaluated and adjusted annually.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to report on and compare the conditions of practicing nurses and nursing graduates in Korea and other OECD countries to suggest policy to improve nurse staffing in Korea. Methods: Data on nurses and nursing graduates from 34 OECD countries in 2015 (or the nearest year) were analyzed. The proportion of practicing nurses among nurses who were licensed to practice and nursing graduates per population and per the number of practicing nurses were examined. Results: The number of practicing nurses per 1,000 population in Korea was 5.9 and, in Korea, only 31.0% of licensed nurses were practicing, whereas the OECD average was 69.5%. Korea had the highest number of nursing graduates (109.0) per 100,000 population and the highest number of nursing graduates (183.5) per 1,000 practicing nurses in the OECD countries. Skill-mix analysis indicated that 52.2% of the practicing nurses in Korea were professional practicing nurses, which was the second-lowest among the OECD countries. The ratio of nurses' wages to those of physician specialists was 0.43 in the OECD countries. Conclusion: Nurse staffing and skill-mix in Korea were very low in comparison to other OECD countries. Policies for retention of nurses via improved working conditions are required.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3094-3101
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• 2012

This study provides fundamental data in order to obtain improved medical services and competitiveness by analyzing the satisfaction level of patients receiving inpatient services at general hospitals. Data from self-administered surveys distributed to inpatient subjects at local general hospitals was collected from 09/19/2011 to 09/30/2011. Firstly, the results of 320 surveys show that the average level of satisfaction from inpatient services was 3.25 (maximum 4.0). Secondly, the results from general characteristics and satisfaction from medical care provider services showed that there is a statistical significance regarding medical treatment, health condition, the number of times admitted to the hospital, and hospital environment including hospital admittance/release proceeders. Also the satisfaction with other services is statistically significant with regards to age, medical treatment, health condition, and the number of times admitted to the hospital. Thirdly, there is a statistically significant positive correlation between inpatient services and levels of satisfaction. Finally, from the analysis of factors influencing inpatient satisfaction showed that physician services and other services significantly affect satisfaction. In conclusion, in order to increase inpatient levels of satisfaction the workforce involved medical treatment of patients need to be retained and a variety of programs need to be in operation that will satisfy patients while they stay in the hospital. Further research is expected.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2008

With sophisticated clinical skills and the effectiveness of Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM), many TKM doctors look forward to over seas expansion. About 450 TKM doctors had NCCAOM certificate, but only 40 TKM doctors arc in US now. Because The status of NCCAOM certificate in USA is not adequate enough for TKM doctors to perform medical treatments. In case of US, State medical boards depend to a large extent on the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates(ECFMG) for certification of international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking licensure in the United States. In addition to receiving certification that includes verification of education credentials, IMGs must pass Steps I and II of the USMLE. In order to obtain a license to practice in the United States, IMGs must successfully complete a residency in a program approved by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education(ACGME) and the complete Step III, the final step in the USMLE. TKM doctors, in the prospective of overseas expansion, applied to ECFMG and their applications have been rejected. This circumstance happened because Korea is unique country in the world with two different medical licensing system, Oriental and Western, both being physician workforce. Rejection by ECFMG occurred because of their minimal understanding of Korea's situation, while the responsibility to inform, propagate and protect TKM doctors own rights depend exclusively to Korean government, TKM doctor oneself and its related organizations, all the members should endeavor on it.