• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.32-42
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• 2021

The printing process can have to print various colors with a limited capacity of printing facility such as ink containers that are needed cleaning to change color. In each container, cleaning time exists to assign corresponding inks, and it is considered as the setup cost required to reduce the increasing productivity. The existing manual method, which is based on the worker's experience or intuition, is difficult to respond to the diversification of color requirements, mathematical modeling and algorithms are suggested for efficient scheduling. In this study, we propose a new type of scheduling problem for the printing process. First, we suggest a mathematical model that optimizes the color assignment and scheduling. Although the suggested model guarantees global optimality, it needs a lot of computational time to solve. Thus, we decompose the original problem into sequencing orders and allocating ink problems. An approximate function is used to compute the job scheduling, and local search heuristic based on 2-opt algorithm is suggested for reducing computational time. In order to verify the effectiveness of our method, we compared the algorithms' performance. The results show that the suggested decomposition structure can find acceptable solutions within a reasonable time. Also, we present schematized results for field application.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.364-371
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• 2022

Background: Respiratory masks can provide healthcare workers with protection from biological hazards when they have good performance. There is a direct relationship between the visual specifications of a mask and its efficacy; thus, the aim of this study was to develop tools for qualitative assessment of the performance of masks used by healthcare workers. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used to develop a qualitative assessment tool for medical face masks (MFM) and particle filtering half masks (PFHM). The development of domains and items was undertaken using observation and interviews, the opinions of an expert panel, and a review of texts and international standards. The second phase evaluated the psychometric properties of tools. Finally, the validated Mask Qualitative Assessment Tools (MQAT) were used to assess six samples from 10 brands of the two types of masks. Results: MQAT-MFM and MQAT-PHFM shared 42 items across seven domains: "cleanliness," "design," "marking, labeling and packaging," "mask layers," "mask strap," "materials and construction," and "nose clip." MQAT-MFM included one additional item. MQAT-PHFM included another nine items associated with an eighth "Practical Performance" domain, and the valve version had another additional "Exhalation Valve" domain and six items. The evaluation indicated 80% compliance for MFM and 71% compliance for PFHM. "Marking, labeling and packaging" and "Layers" were associated with the least compliance in both types of masks and should be checked carefully for defining mask quality. Conclusion: MQAT can be used for immediate screening and initial assessment of MFM and PHFM through appearance, simple tools, and visual inspection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2019

Purpose: Annual influenza vaccination is the best strategy to prevent healthcare-associated influenza transmission. Influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers (HCWs) vary by country, region, and year. We investigated the influenza vaccination rates for HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in South Korea, where a non-mandatory vaccination campaign was conducted. Methods: We retrospectively investigated factors affecting the influenza vaccination rate among HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in three tertiary hospitals in Goyang City, where the non-mandatory influenza vaccination program is conducted. Results: Consequently, 6,994 of 7,180 HCWs (97%) were included, and the overall vaccination rate was 85%. Nurses had the highest rate with 92%, followed by health technicians (88%), physicians (84%), and non-medical HCWs (79%, P<0.001). Vaccination rates differed, depending on the frequency of contact with patients in the non-medical HCWs (frequent contact vs. less-frequent contact; 90% vs. 73%, P<0.001). Conclusions: The influenza vaccination rate among HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in Korea was 85%, which is among the highest rates compared with previously reported non-mandatory vaccination rates in other countries. The vaccination rate may vary depending on the HCW's occupational characteristics, including the extent of contact with the patient. Therefore, a multifaceted strategy is needed to increase the vaccination rate of HCWs.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.14-20
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of obesity with medical care use and costs according to overall diseases, cerebrovascular diseases (CVD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM). The final sample was a group of persons who were free of diseases mentioned above and were not underweight. Their baseline screening program data and health insurance contribution data were connected with a 7-year medical claim database. The participants were classified according to their baseline BMI into normal, overweight, obese, and severely obese groups. Given the disease type, the total costs of DM showed the largest difference in each obesity group in both males and females. Also, the pharmacy costs for DM were more relevant than any other type of service to the obesity level. Considering the high prevalence of obesity and the relevantly increased medical care use and costs, there is a need for reduction in medical costs through obesity prevention efforts.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-40
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• 1999

This study attempts to analyze the relationship between various job-related factors and the intent to turnover of employees working at different types of hospitals/clinics in urban and rural areas. The data was compiled from 1,506 employees in 21 hospitals and 10 clinics located in Kyung-gi Do. Korea, using a self-administered questionnaire. Major findings are as follows: 1) The intent to turnover was higher for the employees of small hospitals located in rural areas. It was also higher when the employees were less than 30 in age, female, single, had not received college education, and had worked for 2-5 years in their hospitals. 2) An important factor affecting the intent to turnover was job satisfaction, which in turn had a strong correlation with the job itself(opportunity of utilizing abilities and skills, subjective value attached to the current job, sense of accomplishment) and had a rather weak correlation with salary, supervision, promotion and co-worker relationship. 3) In the analysis by job category, it was found that, besides job satisfaction, the intent to turnover was significantly affected by the job itself in case of administrative personnel and by the level of salary in case of nurses. 4) For a successful management of turnover, hospitals need to develop (a) programs for improving adaptive abilities of 'new' employees(who have worked for less than 2 years), and (b) for the other employees(who have worked for more than 2 years), strategies for enhancing job satisfaction by providing the environment where they can show their maximum abilities.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2020

Confronting rapid population ageing, Japanese government proposes various types of regional comprehensive care programs for elderly people. In particular, the Japanese government and local governments are making efforts to ensuring long-term care workforce. Among others, the government is pursuing measures to secure specialized manpower in various ways 1) Construction of infrastructure, 2) Loan system for long-term care worker, 3) Inflow of long-term care staff for foreign students, etc. Also, universities have trained numerous community care specialists through research centers for health care, social welfare, and specialized education. Korea is also expected to explode the demand for long-term care worker at the rapid rate of aging, and it is necessary to actively discuss measures to cope with it.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.324-334
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• 1998

Background : Strategic planning is an organizationwide or systemwide, ongoing look into the future usually of 2~3 years, based on objective analysis of the current environment and trends, but it can incorporate both short-term and long-term goals. The strategic planning process includes external analysis, internal analysis, issue analysis, development of mission, vision and values, and lastly development of organizational goals and objectives. As a part of the strategic quality planning process, certain service lines, important organizationwide functions, or key processes supporting these functions can be prioritized to expedite and roll out certain strategic goals. This is called strategic quality initiatives. Methods : We organized a quality improvement team, a subgroup of 21st century vision planning corps of our medical center, and pursued QI activities for improvement of healthcare environment, particularly in the admission setting. We developed a strategic quality initiative based on the results of patient satisfaction surveys, and carried out functions of self-directed work team. Results : The strategic goal was to be the benchmark for peer group hospitals in Korea for providing cost-effective best-practice. The QI team included 3 medical doctors, 1 nurse, 1 social worker, and 1 QI consultant as well as many operational members to support services and quality initiatives met every Tuesday for 18 weeks. Outcome objectives were to improve patient satisfaction score. The issues included in the objectives were comfort, temperature, noise, cleanliness of the admission wards, quality and education of patient meals, matters regarding the admission process, and an appurtenant facility such as restaurant or convenience store. Every issue was discussed and recommendations, conclusions and opportunities were implemented. Conclusions : By developing a strategic quality initiative as a part of the strategic quality planning process, and pursuing a self-directed work team, certain sen/ice lines, important organizationwide functions, or key processes supporting these functions can be improved effectively within a short period. Strategic quality initiatives serve to support, or roll out, certain strategic goals that are relevant to performance improvement and development of specific measurable outcome objectives, and associated performance measure for each initiative. Each strategic quality initiative should include a statement of intent outcome objectives, and performance measures. We will come back with follow up of the strategic quality initiative, for improvement of healthcare environment, and results of patient satisfaction re-survey.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify an associations between health care workers' uniforms and health care-associated infection. Methods: Electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, KMbase, and KoreaMed, were searched. The search terms included doctor, nurse, health care worker/staff/assistant, clothing, (white) gown, uniform, (neck)tie, and attire. Only papers published in English and Korean were included. Results: 16 studies were selected from 1,900 references screened. All of the studies were non-comparative studies except for one. Four were conducted with doctors, six with nurses, one with health care workers including physiotherapists and one for medical staff plus visitors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors more frequently changed their uniforms than neckties; therefore, the degree of contamination was more serious in neckties. The cuff zone was more likely to be heavily contaminated than other areas of long-sleeve gowns. Coats become contaminated quickly once worn, and colony counts reached a similar level within the first few hours after wearing them. Wearing a plastic apron or protective clothing did not prevent the bacterial contamination of nurses' uniforms, and the best way to decrease the contamination was changing to newly laundered uniforms before starting every duty. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' uniforms are a potential source of health care-associated infection although there was no robust evidence. The government must establish standards for laundering of uniforms or a requirement for institutions to provide a laundering service for healthcare workers' uniforms.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.102-112
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• 2017

[purpose] This study was conducted to identify how a hospital's outsourcing workers' QWL influences Turnover Intention and to determine Dual Commitment cause any discrepancies in regards to the link between QWL and Turnover Intention. [Methodology/Approach] The study is based on 254 survey sheets answered by outsourcing employees working at general hospitals with more than 300 beds in Seoul and the methods of analysis used are as follows: reliability analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and hierarchical regressions analysis. [Findings] The study results First, analyzing how different types of QWL (individual, organizational, managemental) influence Turnover Intention, R2 turned out to be 30.7% and organizational factors and managemental factors show a statistically significant difference. In addition, organizational and managemental factors have negative effects on Turnover Intention while that of organization factors has a bigger influence. Second, verifying regulation effects of Dual Commitment in regards to the link between QWL and Turnover Intention, it is learned that Dual Commitment (hiring firm) has no regulation effects on the link. However, it does have a regulation effect on the link between QWL (managemental) and Turnover Intention. Moreover, after verifying regulation effects of Dual Commitment (client's firm), it is learned that it has regulation effect on the link between QWL (organizational and managemental) and Trunover Intention. [Practical Implications] In conclusion, lower Turnover Intention, it is necessary to impose tasks that suit the employees' competence and to encourage efficiency throughout clear communications and accurate directions.

• Infection and chemotherapy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2018

Background: Lancet-related needlestick injuries (NSIs) occur steadily in clinical practices. Safety-engineered devices (SEDs) can systematically reduce NSIs. However, the use of SEDs is not active and no study to guide the implementation of SEDs was known in South Korea. The lancet-related NSIs may be eliminated to zero incidence using a SED lancet with effective sharp injury protection and reuse prevention features. Materials and Methods: We implemented a SED lancet by replacing a conventional prick lancet in a tertiary hospital in a sequential approach. A spot test of the new SED was conducted for 1 month to check the acceptability in practice and a questionnaire survey was obtained from the healthcare workers (HCWs). A pilot implementation of the SED lancet in 2 wards was made for 1 year. Based on these preliminary interventions, a hospital-wide full implementation of the SED lancet was launched. The incidence of NSIs and cost expenditure before and after the intervention were compared. Results: There were 29 cases of conventional prick lancet-related NSIs for 3 years before the full implementation of SED lancet. The proportion of prick lancet-related NSIs among yearly all kinds of NSIs during two years before the pilot study was average 11.7% (22/188). Pre-interventional baseline incidence of all kinds of NSIs was 7.01 per 100 HCW-years. After the full implementation of SED lancet, the lancet-related NSIs became zero in the 2nd year (P = 0.001). The average direct cost of 18,393 US dollars (USD) per year from device and post-exposure medical care before the intervention rose to 20,701 USD in the 2nd year of the intervention. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 210 USD per injury avoided. Conclusion: The implementation of a SED lancet could eliminate the lancet-related NSIs to zero incidence. The cost increase incurred by the use of SED lancet was tolerable.