• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.163-193
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• 1997

Medical services are a fundamental and essential service in all urban areas. The location and accessibility of medical service facilities and institutions are critical to the diagnosis, control and prevention of illness and disease. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study on the location of medical facilities in Kwangju and the utilization of these facilities by the inhabitants. The following information is a summary of the findings: (1) Korea, like many countries, is now witnessing an increase in the age of its population as a result of higher living standards and better medical services. Korea is also experiencing a rapid increase in health care costs. To ensure easy access to medical consultation, diagnosis and treatment by individuals, the hierarchical efficient location of medical facilities, low medical costs, equalized medical services, preventive medical care is important. (2) In Korea, the quality of medical services has improved significantly as evident by the increased number of medical facilities and medical personnel. However, there is still a need for not only quantitative improvements but also for a more equitable distribution of and location of medical services. (3) There are 503 medical facilities in Kwangju each with a need to service 2,556 people. This is below the national average of 1,498 inhabitants per facility. The higher locational quotient and satisfactory population per medical facility showed at the civic center. On the other hand, problem regions such as the traditional residential area in Buk-Gu, Moo-deung mountain area and the outer areas of west Kwangju still maintain rural characteristics. (4) In the study area there are 86 general medicine clinics which provide basic medical services. i. e. one clinic per every 14,949 residents. As a basic service, its higher locational quotient showed in the residential area. The lower population concentration per clinic was found in the civic center and in the former town center, Songjeong-dong. In recently build residential areas and in the civic center, the lack of general medicine clinics is not a serious medical services issue because of the surplus of medical specialists in Korea. People are inclined to seek a consultation with a specialist in specific fields rather than consult a general practitioner. As a result of this phenomenon, there are 81 internal medicine facilities. Of these, 32.1% provide services to people who are not referred by a primary care physician but who self-diagnose then choose a medical facility specializing in what they believe to be their health problem. Areas in the city, called dongs, without any internal facilities make up 50% of the total 101 dongs. (5) There are 78 surgical facilities within the area, and there is little difference at the locational appearance from internal medicine facilities. There are also 71 pediatric health clinics for people under 15 years of age in this area, represents one clinic per 5,063 people. On the quantitative aspect, this is a positive situation. Accessibility is the most important facility choice factor, so it should be evenly located in proportion to demander distribution. However, 61% of 102 dongs have no pediatric clinics because of the uneven location. (6) There are 43 obstetrical and gynecological clinics in Kwangju, and the number of residents being served per clinic is 15,063. These services need to be given regularly so it should increase the numbers. There are 37 ENT clinics in the study area with the lower concentration in Dong-gu (32.4%) making no locational differences by dong. There are 23 dermatology clinics with the largest concentration in Dong-Gu. There are 17 ophthalmic clinics concentrated in the residential area because of the primary function of this type of specialization. (7) The use of general medicine clinics, internal medicine clinics, pediatric clinics, ENT clinics by the inhabitants indicate a trend toward primary or routine medical services. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics are used on a regular basis. In choosing a general medicine clinic, internal medicine clinic, pediatric clinic, and a ENT clinic, accessibility is the key factor while choice of a general hospital, surgery clinic, or an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, thes faith and trust in the medical practitioner is the priority consideration. (8) I considered the efficient use of medical facilities in the aspect of locational and management and suggest the following: First, primary care facilities should be evenly distributed in every area. In Kwangju, the number of medical facilities is the lowest among the six largest cities in Korea. Moreover, they are concentrated in Dong-gu and in newly developed areas. The desired number of medical facilities should be within 30 minutes of each person's home. For regional development there is a need to develop a plan to balance, for example, taxes and funds supporting personnel, equipment and facilities. Secondly, medical services should be co-ordinated to ensure consistent, appropriate, quality services. Primary medical facilities should take charge of out-patient activities, and every effort should be made to standardize and equalize equipment and facility resources and to ensure ongoing development and training in the primary services field. A few specialty medical facilities and general hospitals should establish a priority service for incurable and terminally ill patients. (9) The management scheme for the inhabitants' efficient use of medical service is as follows: The first task is to efficiently manage medical facilities and related services. Higher quality of medical services can be accomplished within the rapidly changing medical environment. A network of social, administrative and medical organizations within an area should be established to promote information gathering and sharing strategies to better assist the community. Statistics and trends on the rate or occurrence of diseases, births, deaths, medical and environment conditions of the poor or estranged people should be maintained and monitored. The second task is to increase resources in the area of disease prevention and health promotion. Currently the focus is on the treatment and care of individuals with illness or disease. A strong emphasis should also be placed on promoting prevention of illness and injury within the community through not only public health offices but also via medical service facilities. Home medical care should be established and medical testing centers should be located as an ordinary service level. Also, reduced medical costs for the physically handicapped, cardiac patients, and mentally ill or handicapped patients should be considered.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-21
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• 2022

Purpose: As the pandemic period continues, various attempts are being made to new medical spaces in the medical society. Many hospitals, including existing general hospitals, have been effected by infected patients and are showing limitations in patient care capacity. Mobile-hospitals may be the starting point for the development of new environment in the medical society and healthcare facilities which are not replacing the role of existing hospitals. Mobile-hospitals can possibly respond to situations that require medical services and provide emergency care for various demands in connection with existing healthcare facilities. Methods: Through a total of five investigations/analysis, medical functions that can be inserted into mobile-hospitals based on modular architecture are set. The first is the analysis of domestic legal guidelines, the second is the analysis of previous studies, the analysis of emergency medical facilities and other medical spaces of hospitals to be compared, the fourth is the analysis of medical spaces of actual mobile hospital projects. Results: Through five analyses, medical functions applicable to the modular building platform were finally established. Mobile hospitals can be used not only in disaster sites such as infectious diseases, but also in medical underprivileged areas or general hospitals. Therefore, it is necessary to establish medical functions that meet the specificity of mobile hospitals along with the functions of existing fixed medical facilities. Furthermore, various studies such as use in international aid, use in normal times, and connection with other platform-based medical facilities are considered necessary. Implications: Through 5 strategies of analysis, 41 medical functions which can be applied to UNIT are decided and these functions will be placed where medical services will be required.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.394-417
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• 2008

The population of Korean Society is aging rapidly at a pace which is unprecedented in the world. This demographic change results in the various socioeconomic and cultural changes accompanied by spatial changes. The purpose of this study is to examine major characteristics of residential medical facilities for the elderly and the life of those using the facilities of the Capital Region in Korea. Major findings of the study are as follows. The characteristics of the location of residential medical facilities for the elderly and the life of those using the facilities are influenced not only by the mobility of the elderly. but also by the distance between the facilities and Seoul and also by the residential environments of the facilities. The location of the facilities and the mobility of the elderly, followed by the residential location of the family have an effect on everyday life of the elderly. Therefore, the location for residential medical facilities is not recommended to be far from the metropolitan area.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.203-230
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• 1998

This purposes of this study is to develope policies on the facilities for the elderly care in Korea. Methodology of this study adopts comparative analysis on the facilities for the elderly care in 6 countries which have experienced various problems on the elderly. These 6 countries are Japan, Sweden, America, Australian, England and Germany. Major issues for comparative analysis are the standard of care facilities, residence condition, finance of facilities establishment and expense, operating system, management, and the law and administrative structure about the facilities for the elderly care. The elderly people need various kinds of welfare services such as medical care facilities, nursing home facilities, home care facilities etc.. Thus the public policies for the aging population nations are compose of income maintenance program, health and medical care services and social welfare services. The policies of facilities for elderly care are very important since these policies include the characteristics of income maintenance, me\ulcorner미 care program and welfare program. This study willsupply basic data for the development of facilities for the elderly care in Korea, especially conceming the system and institutional device of the facilities.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.103-133
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• 2014

We consider the economic value of emergency medical facilities. An emergency medical facility affects the medical environments in a community, and thus the social demand on the facility increases as the demand of qualified public health service increases. Regarding the increased demand and the limited resources of fiscal budget, it is important to scientifically evaluate the social benefit of the public investment on emergency medical facilities, as the results of evaluation can help make better budgetary decision on each public investment project of emergency medical facilities. In this paper, we try to estimate the economic value of emergency medical facilities based upon the estimated changes in preventable death rate by the facility and the statistical value of life. We hope the results contribute to improve the budgetary decision making on the emergency medical facility projects, thus the public health policies.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of airborne radon concentration by season in public-use facilities in South Korea. Research design, data and methodology: The data is provided by the public data portal, and public-use facilities nationwide where radon in the air is measured are specialized sanatorium for senior citizens, libraries, childcare facilities, postpartum care centers, medical institutions, funeral halls, underground shopping malls, and underground subway stations. Results: The facility with the highest radon concentration in public-use facilities was childcare facilities with an average of 50.2 ± 21.7 Bq/m³, while the average of medical institutions was the lowest at 24.8 ± 5.7 Bq/m³. The season with the largest difference in average radon concentration between childcare facilities and medical institutions was in the order of fall (28.6 Bq/m³), followed by winter (28.1 Bq/m³), spring (23.0 Bq/m³), and summer (22.0 Bq/m³). Conclusions: The main concentration levels of each public-use facility shown in this study are all below domestic and international standards, but there is a significant concentration difference between facilities. By season, winter showed the highest average concentration (40.6 ± 21.3 Bq/m³) and summer showed the lowest average concentration (23.8 ± 14.0 Bq/m³).

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.49-55
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• 2015

Current medical delivery system in Korea has been distinguished into three types; primary medical facilities, secondary facilities, and tertiary facilities since 1989. This system prevents the waste of medical resources along with the maintenance of balance according to the medical treatment subjects. However, it is inevitable that the imbalance of the medical services among regions has been generated due to the concentration of the medical facilities on large cities. In this regard, this study attempted to evaluate the quality of the primary medical services, emphasizing accessibility and convenience targeting Jinju city, a small and medium-sized city, based on the distribution characteristics of the space. The study results show that cohesion index about the spatial distribution of the primary care facilities was 0~0.25. It conducted a correlation analysis between the location of the hospitals and users, based on the study results. Finally, it is demonstrated the correlation between the location of the hospitals and users tended to be low, while, the cohesion of the Oriental medicine clinics was high in other treatment subjects, and the accessibility to the Oriental medicine clinics was the highest because most Oriental medicine clinics were distributed to the places where users were many. However, on account that the locations of the medical facilities and users were varied in other treatment subjects except for the Oriental medicine clinics, problems were generated in terms of the accessibility. Therefore, it is judged that the preparation of the measures to improve the selection of lots in consideration of users, who use the primary medical services, is required.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Purpose : As the necessity of reinforcement of infections management in medical facilities after MERS increased, Ministry of Health and Welfare promulgated the enforcement regulations of medical law on February 3, 2017. Its main objective is to improve patients' safety and medical-care quality through the establishment of isolation facilities from infectious diseases and the set-up of standards for In-patient and ICU facilities. The purpose of this study is necessarily to propose a standardized spatial composition model for ward modules by analyzing changing environments of in-patient facilities according to the strengthened medical law. Method: Theoretical studies will be undergone of Evidence-based Designs to improve patients' safety, medical quality, and domestic/overseas in-patient room guidelines. With reference to the status of 24 general hospitals over 500 beds, the spatial compositions of the in-patient rooms and the types of multi/single bed room modules will be analyzed. The directions of future in-patient room module changes through the study of the minimum ward module types and various ward types will be presented. Result: This paper will hopefully provide guidelines for hospitalization rooms that can be applied to the revised rules of medical law enforcement and provide a basis for a comprehensive study of patients' safety and efficient infection control as well.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.103-117
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• 2006

There is no compulsory administration on the facility status for silver medical welfare facilities under the current legal regulations based on the welfare law of the aged nor is there standardized space allotment conditions that considered the physical psychological and pathological characteristics of the aged. Hence, welfare facilities are presently being constructed under general architectural laws. (Ed- paragraphs combined here) Therefore, standardized space allotment conditions should be planned soon for the aged in welfare facilities. (Ed- paragraphs combined here) In this study we examined the situation of space allotment through both blueprint analysis and interview with building supervisors. However, in future studies, we will focus on space insufficiency situations and the needs of the aged residents in welfare facilities.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify experiences when Koreans who reside in Thailand visit Thai health facilities. Methods: The data were collected via direct interview from 36 Korean residents of Thailand. Collected data were analyzed by content analysis. Result: 1) 162 content analysis data were collected from the participants' statements. These data were categorized into 70 attributes and 9 higher attributes. 2) Out of the 70 attributes, the 3 attributes which were most commonly mentioned by the participants were the following: medical expense for foreigners were expensive(66.7%), difficulties in communication with health care providers(36.1%), kindness of nurses(33.3%). 3) The 9 higher attributes were 1) high medical expense to foreigner, 2) difficulties in communication, 3) distrust about medical service, 4) excessive prescription in oral medicine, 5) kindness, 6) good service, 7) difference in medical environment according hospital type, 8) irrational process in medical treatment for out patients, 9) cultural difference in postpartum care. Conclusion: When Korean residents in Thailand use Thailand health facilities, they experience high medical expense, difficulties in communication, low quality in medical service and kindness of the medical staff.