• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2021

Purpose: The relationship between the staff area and the patient's private area is the key factor in designing the structure and the environmental characteristics of ward spaces in a psychiatric hospital. Recent research has found that for the purpose of treatment and securing privacy, psychiatric patients need to be in an open space of relief rather than closed confined environment and under the watch of nursing staffs. Methods: A survey at three kinds of wards in a private psychiatric hospital in Japan was conducted in October 2002. These wards include an acute ward, a psychiatric convalescence ward, and a stress care ward. All three kinds of wards have the same structure. At each ward, spatial preferences of the 145 psychiatric inpatients were surveyed and data concerning the patient's diagnostic category, symptoms, and activities of daily living were recorded. Results: The patients in the stress care ward prefer to stay in private spaces than public spaces. On the other hand, in the acute ward the patients seem to have a preference between managed public spaces where are monitored by nursing staffs and their private rooms where the nurse station is close. In addition, the patients in the psychiatric convalescence ward spend most of their time in the public space, such as the hallways or the day room. Implications: Base on this research, the spaces at the acute ward that could be monitored by the nursing station serves effectively as a safety space for patients was concluded. However, in the stress care ward, the patients may perceive the monitoring by the nursing staff as interruption or nuisance to their relaxation. In order to design an ideal healing environment for psychiatric patients in psychiatric ward, it is important to consider how environmental characteristics of space affect the environmental sense of patients in each ward.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 2014

Since the introduction of National Health Insurance(NHI) in 1977, it has grown rapidly and contributed to extend patient's access to the health care services. However, limited coverage for health care services of NHI has been ongoing challenge and private health insurance(PHI) has been rising as an alternative source of enhancing coverage and saving out-of-pocket(OOP) expenditure for patients. In this study, after controlling for socio-demographic, economic, health related variables, we identified the patients' healthcare utilization and subsequent OOP expenditure depending on their PHI enrollment and their enrollment types(fixed benefit, indemnity, fixed benefit plus indemnity). Data were collected from the 2010 Korean Health Panel. The unit of analysis was a member of household(n=13,324). Of the 13,324 cases, 70.7% of patients held PHI, in detail, fixed benefit(47.0%), indemnity(3.6%), fixed benefit plus indemnity(20.1%). Major findings showd that patients who enrolled in PHI used more outpatient services(outpatient visit, number of physician visit, number of examination) and spent more OOP expenditure than non-PHI patients. There were also differences of healthcare utilization and OOP expenditure among the types of PHI. In addition, PHI patients used more inpatient services(inpatient use, number of hospitalization, LOS), but there was no significant difference between PHI and non-PHI patients with regard to the OOP expenditure. Thus, we could not find any distinct relationship between the types of PHI and patients' tertiary hospital use. Policy-makers should need careful political deliberation for monitoring the effect of PHI on health care utilization and subsequent expenditure not only to improve patients' coverage but also to save their OOP expenditures.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1-17
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• 2002

This study was attempted to identify the liquidity trends and determinants of private hospitals in Korea different. Data used in this study were collected from 98 hospitals with complete general data of present conditions as well as financial statements(balance sheets, income statements). They were chosen from hospitals that passed the standardization audit undertaken by the Korean Hospital Association from 1996 to 2000 for the purpose of accrediting training hospitals. The dependent variables in this study were used current ration and quick ratio as a proxy indicator for liquidity. The independent variables were ownership type, hospital type, location, bed size, period of establishment, short-term liabilities to total assets, long-term liabilities to total assets, borrowings to total assets, fixed asset ration, net profit to total assets, operating margin to gross revenue, growth rate of net worth to total assets, total asset turnover, and business risk(volatility of profit). The major findings of this study were as follows. Trends of liquidity(current ratio, quick ratio) had been continuously decreased. Especially, There were very distinct decreasing trends of personal hospitals and less than 300beds, which weakened liquidity. The factors had significant effect on current ratio were short-term debt to total assets(-), fixed asset ratio(-), business risk(+). High short-term debt to total assets, high fixed asset ratio and high business risk significantly decreased in liquidity. The factors that significantly affected on quick ratio were short-term debt to total assets(-), borrowings to total assets(+), fixed asset ratio(-), business risk(+).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to assess public and private medical diagnostic laboratories in Nigeria for the presence of biosafety equipment, devices, and measures. Methods: A total of 80 diagnostic laboratories in biosafety level 3 were assessed for the presence of biosafety equipment, devices, and compliance rate with biosafety practices. A detailed questionnaire and checklist was used to obtain the relevant information from enlisted laboratories. Results: The results showed the presence of an isolated unit for microbiological work, leak-proof working benches, self-closing doors, emergency exits, fire extinguisher(s), autoclaves, and hand washing sinks in 21.3%, 71.3%, 15.0%, 1.3%, 11.3%, 82.5%, and 67.5%, respectively, of all laboratories surveyed. It was observed that public diagnostic laboratories were significantly more likely to have an isolated unit for microbiological work (p = 0.001), hand washing sink (p = 0.003), and an autoclave ($p{\leq}0.001$) than private ones. Routine use of hand gloves, biosafety cabinet, and a first aid box was observed in 35.0%, 20.0%, and 2.5%, respectively, of all laboratories examined. Written standard operating procedures, biosafety manuals, and biohazard signs on door entrances were observed in 6.3%, 1.3%, and 3.8%, respectively, of all audited laboratories. No biosafety officer(s) or records of previous spills, or injuries and accidents, were observed in all diagnostic laboratories studied. Conclusion: In all laboratories (public and private) surveyed, marked deficiencies were observed in the area of administrative control responsible for implementing biosafety. Increased emphasis on provision of biosafety devices and compliance with standard codes of practices issued by relevant authorities is strongly advocated.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.91-100
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of hospital architecture constructed in each periods and identify the changing process of hospital architecture in Korea since 1945. Methods : Literature review was conducted while the data of hospitals had been collected and the subject of investigation were selected. The important point of analysis is about design conception, site plan, block plan and hospital form. Results : The characteristics of hospital architecture are identified in each periods. Developed by private sector, hospitals have enlarged their beds and sizes under the competitive environments. In terms of size and external shape, vertical form has become a dominant scene of hospital forms in Korea. Among the dominance of tower-on podium, various block plans have been adopted with hospital streets. Also a few cases of horizontal disintegrated form was introduced. Implications : This paper could be the basic data to organize the history of Korean Hospital Architecture, and insufficient data should be supplemented continuously.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.523-529
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• 2017

This study analyzed the financial information between 2011 and 2014 comparing management performance and utilization of capital and human resources between private non-profit general hospitals and regional public hospitals operated as general hospitals. The purpose of this study was to enhance the productivity for financial independence of regional public hospitals. Comparison analysis variables were value added to the total assets, value added to the productive activity tangible fixed assets, value added to personnel expenses, ratio of value added, and operating margin to revenues. According to the analysis results, regional public hospitals showed lower investment efficiency indicator and higher ratio of value added, as well as significantly lower operating margin-to-revenues compared with private non-profit general hospitals. Moreover, the effect of investment efficiency indicators on operating margin-to-revenues was value added to the productive activity of tangible fixed assets and value added to personnel expenses in regional public hospitals; the value added to personnel expenses in private non-profit general hospitals had a significant effect on the operating margin-to-revenues, the effect of value added to personnel expenses was the greatest. Therefore, it is necessary to asset utilization to the revenue and propriety of human resources to personnel expenses in regional public hospitals.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.185-206
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• 2008

The National Health Insurance (NHI) has been the main body of health care system in Korea for the last 30 years since the NHI was founded. However, the inefficient management and strong regulations of the NHI have hindered the development of health care industry. The establishment of the MB government, whose interest lies on economic growth rather than equity, is expected to help the health care services gain a momentum. The essential measures that can step up public health care services overall are the following: the introduction of competition within NHI, the activation of private health care insurance, and the allowance of for-profit hospital. The private-public mix with market mechanism would level up the health care service for the public.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 1978

To try to determine the type of medical service wanted by the rural population, in Chungnam Province, a survey amongst the populations of 6 counties was conducted; Within the 6 counties, 2 local communities, which had no access to local medical services, were surveyed. The 12 communities were actively involved in Sae-maul activities, and total number of households surveyed, was 822. The survey was conducted over a 1 month period, from July 16th, 1976, thru August 20th, and the followings are the results, summarised. 1. The largest number of respondents desired a combination of Public Health Center and Country Hospital, followed in order by Private Clinic and Modern Medical Facility. 2. The respondents, aged under 40 years, desired the Private Clinic type medical service, whilst those over 40 years of age, wanted the County Hospital, and as the numbers in this age bracket, were larger, so the ratio was much higher. 3. Sex, educational background, and occupation did not play any particular emphasis in the decisions. 4. Monthly income affected the responses to the survey. These in the lower-income bracket, wanted the County Hospital, and the ratio was high. These in the high income bracket desired the Modern Medical Service, accordingly. Those with an income of 50,000 won or less, amongst the low-income bracket, favored the Public Health Sub-center type of service. The ratio for this service was very high.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2004

The United States has a unique health care system, which is unlikely any other health care systems in the world. The major part of basic functional components of the system -financing, insurance, delivery, and payment- is in private hands. A market-oriented economy invites the participation of numerous private entities that are interested in carrying out the key functions of health systems. Due to this central feature, U.S.health care is not delivered through a network of interrelated components designed to work together coherently. For lack of standardization, the various components of the system fit together only loosely. The involvement of numerous players in the key functions leads to duplication, overlap, inadequacy, inconsistency, and waste, which add to the complexity and also make the system inefficient. Hence, cost containment remains an elusive goals. Moreover, the system falls short of delivering equitable services to all americans, though consumption of health care services is the largest in the world. On the other hand, United States leads the world in the latest and the best in medical technology, medical training, and research. It offers some of the most sophisticated institutions, products, and processes of health care delivery. This article discuss the characteristic features of the U.S. health care system. and its performance, trying to seek its implication on Korean health care system.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.217-234
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• 1997

This study attempts to analyze some determinants of consumers' medical service quality and their complaining behavior. The results can be summerized as follows: 1. The determinants of consumers' perceived medical service quality could be categorized as five factors; i.e. nursery, hospital environment, medical doctors, other staffs service fee. Among them nursery sector consists of 32% variance. 2. According to the discriminant analysis, those determinants are of great value to distinguish between satisfied/unsatisfied group. The hit ratio was 85.4% which is relatively high score. 3. The type of complaining behavior could be grouped into no action, private and public complaining behavior. Most of respondents belonged to no action group and a few showed private complaining behavior. Any respondents who were willing to show public complaining behavior could not be found out. 4. These variables which influence complaining behavior were preconception toward hospital, barrier to complaining process and expected complaining behavior. Among them the first one was most influential variable. 5. In order to distinguish between complaining/non complaining behavior group, discriminant analysis was done. The result showed the above three variables had a significantly discriminatory power, the hit ratio reaching above 70%. In summary, we can see that consumers' evaluation on the whole medical service depends on the external factor such as staffs' attitude or hospital facilities due to the lack of their ability to evaluate highly specialized service like doctor's treatment.