The Korean government operates a fee-for-service system, as well as a diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system that only applies to 7 different specific disease groups. To control rapidly increasing health expenditures, the Korean government adopted a compulsory DRG payment system for 7 disease groups in 2013. However, the current Korean DRG (K-DRG) system does not address the cost of new medical technologies and accompanying services, whereas the United States and European countries have implemented incentive systems within the DRG payment system to promote technological innovations. The Korean government is expanding the accessibility of new medical technologies to strengthen the coverage of 4 major conditions with a selective reimbursement system, but the K-DRG system is inconsistent with the selective reimbursement system in terms of adopting new medical technology. Such inconsistency is clearly shown in the case of advanced energy devices that are essential for surgical procedures. Despite their clinical usefulness and the high demand for such instruments, there is little space for compensation for advanced energy devices in DRG groups. Neither healthcare providers nor patients can choose selectively reimbursed medical devices under the current DRG system, leading to unequal healthcare benefits among patient groups. This paper proposes additional payments for new medical technology that is costly but clinically effective to ensure patient access to new medical technology under the K-DRG system, and suggests that a fair and consistent policy would be to apply the selective reimbursement of medical services in K-DRG.
Compensation and Redress ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis-Related Groups* ; Health Expenditures ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Inventions ; Korea* ; Motivation ; United States

The Korean government operates a fee-for-service system, as well as a diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system that only applies to 7 different specific disease groups. To control rapidly increasing health expenditures, the Korean government adopted a compulsory DRG payment system for 7 disease groups in 2013. However, the current Korean DRG (K-DRG) system does not address the cost of new medical technologies and accompanying services, whereas the United States and European countries have implemented incentive systems within the DRG payment system to promote technological innovations. The Korean government is expanding the accessibility of new medical technologies to strengthen the coverage of 4 major conditions with a selective reimbursement system, but the K-DRG system is inconsistent with the selective reimbursement system in terms of adopting new medical technology. Such inconsistency is clearly shown in the case of advanced energy devices that are essential for surgical procedures. Despite their clinical usefulness and the high demand for such instruments, there is little space for compensation for advanced energy devices in DRG groups. Neither healthcare providers nor patients can choose selectively reimbursed medical devices under the current DRG system, leading to unequal healthcare benefits among patient groups. This paper proposes additional payments for new medical technology that is costly but clinically effective to ensure patient access to new medical technology under the K-DRG system, and suggests that a fair and consistent policy would be to apply the selective reimbursement of medical services in K-DRG.
Compensation and Redress ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis-Related Groups* ; Health Expenditures ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Inventions ; Korea* ; Motivation ; United States

BACKGROUND: The risk for a hand injury was increased according to industrial structure and lifestyle change. This study investigated the post traumatic stress (PTS) and related factors in some hand replantation patients. METHODS: Total 150 hand replantation patients in one hospital were selected using convenience sampling methods. General characteristics of patients, characteristics of injured hand, self-esteem and PTS were collected using self-reported questionnaires. And clinical characteristics of injured hand were obtained from a review of medical records. Descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were performed to determine the associated factors with the score of PTS. RESULTS: Among 150 patients, 80% were male and 94% had a job. The mean score of PTS was 22.2±16.9. In simple analysis, PTS score were associated with smoking status, injury day of the week, pain score and self-esteem. Finally, the subjects who injured in weekdays had significantly higher PTS score compared to subjects who injured in weekend (β=0.185, P=0.021) and pain score was positively associated with PTS score (β=0.181, P=0.027) in multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Injury day of the week and pain score were associated with PTS score in some hand replantation patients. Considering these results will help to management and improve quality of life of hand replantation patients.
Amputation ; Hand Injuries ; Hand* ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Medical Records ; Quality of Life ; Replantation* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: Demand of specialized maternity ward is increasing as national income level rises. However, the National Health Insurance limits the number of hospital's non-standard room to less than 50% of total hospital beds. Therefore, this research was performed to investigate the utilization rate of non-standard room among the Korean women who recently delivered baby in medical facilities in order to examine the factors affecting their selection. METHODS: One hundred sixty six medical facilities which deliver a minimum of ten cases in 2011 were selected and categorized by type, region, and size. A cross-sectional survey was done in November 2012 by a professional research survey company. Eight hundred and two pregnant women answered the questionnaire through a face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Of the 802 expecting mothers, 690 (86%) occupied non-standard room and 684 (85.2%) preferred non-standard room to the standard room. Satisfaction levels were significantly higher in mothers occupying non-standard room [5.9+/-1.0 vs. 5.4+/-1.2 (0-7 scale), P<0.01] and high-income families used non-standard room more often. Reasons for using non-standard room included adequate convalescence (78%), separate place for breastfeeding (6.1%), and convenience on receiving visitors (5.4%). Preference for non-standard room on next visit was higher in case of delivery compared to other cause of hospitalization (81.8% vs. 44.9%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preference and actual use of non-standard room after delivery were significant. In spite of concrete preference, there was certain barrier in use of non-standard room according to the income and types of hospitals. Therefore, changes of policy such as insurance support for room charge may be needed in case of delivery.
Breast Feeding ; Convalescence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Insurance ; Maternal Health Services ; Mothers* ; National Health Programs ; Patients' Rooms ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Maternal Health

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are known to be markers of the systemic inflammatory response. However, the few studies that have been done on the relationship between the NLR and PLR and osteoporosis have yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between the NLR and PLR and bone mineral density (BMD). This study was conducted with postmenopausal patients admitted to an orthopaedic hospital. Data including BMD, NLR, PLR and covariates were obtained from the subjects' medical records. In total, 407 postmenopausal patients were enrolled in this study. Analysis of covariance was performed to identify significant differences in BMD according to NLR and PLR. After adjusting for other covariates, a quartile of NLR was negatively associated with the mean value of lumbar BMD (p=0.040, p for trend=0.005) but not with the mean value of femur neck BMD. However, there were no significant associations among the PLR, the BMD of the lumbar and the femur neck. In conclusion, the quartile of NLR was negatively associated with the mean value of lumbar BMD in Korean postmenopausal patients.
Blood Platelets ; Bone Density ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Osteoporosis

Purpose: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a promising agent for intraoperative visualization of tumor tissues and sentinel lymph nodes in early-stage gynecological cancer. However, it has some limitations, including a short half-life and poor solubility in aqueous solutions. This study aimed to enhance the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging by overcoming the shortcomings of ICG using a nano-drug delivery system and improve target specificity in cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: ICG and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conjugated with polyethylenimine (PEI) were assembled to enhance stability. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was coated on PEI-PLGA-ICG nanoparticles to target CD44-positive cancer cells. The manufactured HA-ICG-PLGA nanoparticles (HINPs) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo on cervical cancer cells (SiHa; CD44+) and human dermal cells (ccd986sk; CD44-), respectively, using NIR imaging to compare intracellular uptake and to quantify the fluorescence intensities of cells and tumors. Results: HINPs were confirmed to have a mean size of 200 nm and a zeta-potential of 33 mV using dynamic light scattering. The stability of the HINPs was confirmed at pH 5.0–8.0. Cytotoxicity assays, intracellular uptake assays, and cervical cancer xenograft models revealed that, compared to free ICG, the HINPs had significantly higher internalization by cervical cancer cells than normal cells (p<0.001) and significantly higher accumulation in tumors (p<0.001) via CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis. Conclusion This study demonstrated the successful application of HINPs as nanocarriers for delivering ICG to CD44-positive cervical cancer, with improved efficacy in NIR fluorescence imaging.

Purpose: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a promising agent for intraoperative visualization of tumor tissues and sentinel lymph nodes in early-stage gynecological cancer. However, it has some limitations, including a short half-life and poor solubility in aqueous solutions. This study aimed to enhance the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging by overcoming the shortcomings of ICG using a nano-drug delivery system and improve target specificity in cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: ICG and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conjugated with polyethylenimine (PEI) were assembled to enhance stability. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was coated on PEI-PLGA-ICG nanoparticles to target CD44-positive cancer cells. The manufactured HA-ICG-PLGA nanoparticles (HINPs) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo on cervical cancer cells (SiHa; CD44+) and human dermal cells (ccd986sk; CD44-), respectively, using NIR imaging to compare intracellular uptake and to quantify the fluorescence intensities of cells and tumors. Results: HINPs were confirmed to have a mean size of 200 nm and a zeta-potential of 33 mV using dynamic light scattering. The stability of the HINPs was confirmed at pH 5.0–8.0. Cytotoxicity assays, intracellular uptake assays, and cervical cancer xenograft models revealed that, compared to free ICG, the HINPs had significantly higher internalization by cervical cancer cells than normal cells (p<0.001) and significantly higher accumulation in tumors (p<0.001) via CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis. Conclusion This study demonstrated the successful application of HINPs as nanocarriers for delivering ICG to CD44-positive cervical cancer, with improved efficacy in NIR fluorescence imaging.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy is currently considered the standard procedure in many patients who need hysterectomy. To reduce incisional morbidity and improve cosmetic outcomes we performed transumbilical single-port total laparoscopic hysterectomy using a special "single three-channel port" and standard laparoscopic tools with virtually no scar. We used an Alexis wound retractor (Applied Medical, CA, USA) and a surgical glove as the "single three-channel port". In this paper, we report four cases of total laparoscopic hysterectomy performed exclusively through an umbilical incision using a single three-channel port.
Cicatrix ; Cosmetics ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare operative feasibility and surgical outcome of the modified Cherney incision and vertical midline incision in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Between March 2005 and December 2007, retrospective data of 78 patients (n=17; modified Cherney incision, n=61; vertical midline incision) with early stage cervical cancer who received radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were reviewed. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of patients who underwent modified Cherney incision and vertical midline incision were similar except for age (mean+/-SD: 32.3+/-3.4 yr vs. 52.5+/-8.4 yr, p<0.001). Patients who received modified Cherney incision had earlier initiation of soft diet (mean+/-SD: 46.5+/-19.5 hr vs. 56.4+/-25.4 hr, p<0.016) and shorter hospital stay compared to those who received vertical midline incision (mean+/-SD: 18.0+/-4.8 days vs. 21.7+/-3.7 days, p<0.042). There was no difference in the number of dissected pelvic lymph nodes, hemoglobin change, postoperative pain, postoperative ileus, Foley indwelling duration, and perioperative complications. CONCLUSION: Excluding the selection bias for age, there was no significant difference of the clinical outcome between the modified Cherney incision group and the vertical midline incision group. Modified Cherney incision can be cosmetically performed in young age women obtaining equal number of lymph nodes without increased operative morbidity compared to vertical midline incision.
Diet ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ileus ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Pain, Postoperative ; Retrospective Studies ; Selection Bias ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare operative feasibility and surgical outcome of the modified Cherney incision and vertical midline incision in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Between March 2005 and December 2007, retrospective data of 78 patients (n=17; modified Cherney incision, n=61; vertical midline incision) with early stage cervical cancer who received radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were reviewed. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of patients who underwent modified Cherney incision and vertical midline incision were similar except for age (mean+/-SD: 32.3+/-3.4 yr vs. 52.5+/-8.4 yr, p<0.001). Patients who received modified Cherney incision had earlier initiation of soft diet (mean+/-SD: 46.5+/-19.5 hr vs. 56.4+/-25.4 hr, p<0.016) and shorter hospital stay compared to those who received vertical midline incision (mean+/-SD: 18.0+/-4.8 days vs. 21.7+/-3.7 days, p<0.042). There was no difference in the number of dissected pelvic lymph nodes, hemoglobin change, postoperative pain, postoperative ileus, Foley indwelling duration, and perioperative complications. CONCLUSION: Excluding the selection bias for age, there was no significant difference of the clinical outcome between the modified Cherney incision group and the vertical midline incision group. Modified Cherney incision can be cosmetically performed in young age women obtaining equal number of lymph nodes without increased operative morbidity compared to vertical midline incision.
Diet ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ileus ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Pain, Postoperative ; Retrospective Studies ; Selection Bias ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms