Hospitals have been very susceptable to changes in external environment. Accordingly, they have been experiencing great financial difficulty due to low insurance rates and increasing competition. As a remedy, hospitals have attempted to use computer in a strategic manner. Such system is called strategic information system (SIS) , and order communication system (OCS) is an example of SIS in hospital setting. While OCS has known to be effective in reducing waiting time for outpatients, many hospitals are reluctant to introduce this system mainly because there are no real data or methods for justifying the cost of the system. Cost-benefit analysis has been traditionally used for such purpose, but this method deals with limited portion of benefits and therefore not very useful for analyzing the economic feasibility of SIS. In this paper, information economics tools which expand cost with value was used to analyze the economic feasibility of OCS. To assist the analysis, financial simulation model was developed using simulation package, called IFPS (Interactive Financial Planning System).
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Insurance ; Outpatients

No abstract available.
Information Management* ; Occupational Health*

No abstract available.
Management Information Systems* ; Occupational Health Services* ; Occupational Health*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Ethanol* ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Mice* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute*

PURPOSE: Chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CPPS) is the most common category of the chronic prostatitis. CPPS is a poorly defined, multifactorial condition characterized by pelvic pain and voiding symptoms. The effectiveness of extracorporeal magnetic innervation(ExMI) therapy was evaluated in patients with CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2003 to December 2004, 28 men who were diagnosed with CPPS who were refractory to medication underwent ExMI therapy for 2 visits weekly for 8 weeks. The patients completed the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) and a maximal flow rate index. RESULTS: Significant decreases occured in NIH-CPSI pain(9.7 to 8.3, p <0.05), NIH-CPSI urination(4.4 to 3.9, p <0.05), NIH-CPSI quality of life 8.7 to 7.7, p <0.05), and total NIH-CPSI(22.8 to 19.9, p <0.05) scores after treatment. There was an insignificant decrease in the maximal flow rate(21.5 to 21.4, p> 0.05) score after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ExMI therapy effectively improves the symptoms of CPPS. ExMI therapy appears to be a safe and effective treatment in improving both the symptoms and the quality of life of men with CPPS refractory to conventional treatment. A larger controlled study is required to confirm these results.
Humans ; Male ; Pelvic Pain* ; Prostatitis ; Quality of Life* ; Urination*

BACKGROUND: The external jugular vein (EJV) is a useful intravenous (IV) cannulation site for anesthesiologists, although it has a relatively high failure rate. Unlike other central veins, visualization of the EJV is important during IV cannulation, and the Valsalva maneuver distends the jugular venous system. However, the relationship between the maneuver and EJV visibility remains unknown. This study compared EJV visibility before and after the Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study that included 200 participants. After the induction of anesthesia, EJV visibility grade, depth from the skin to the EJV superficial surface (EJV depth), and EJV cross-sectional area (CSA) before the Valsalva maneuver were measured. The same parameters were measured after the Valsalva maneuver was performed. The EJV visibility grade was defined as grade A: good appearance and good palpation, grade B: poor appearance and good palpation, and grade C: poor appearance and poor palpation. RESULTS: Patient body mass index and EJV depth affected the EJV visibility grade before the Valsalva maneuver (p < 0.05), although EJV CSA did not. The Valsalva maneuver distended EJV CSA and reduced EJV depth, although these changes were not correlated with EJV visibility grade. With regard to EJV visibility, 34.0% of grade B cases and 20.0% of grade C cases were improved by the Valsalva maneuver. CONCLUSIONS: Although the Valsalva maneuver improved EJV CSA and EJV depth, it did not greatly affect EJV visibility grade.
Anesthesia ; Body Mass Index ; Catheterization ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Observational Study ; Palpation ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Ultrasonography ; Valsalva Maneuver* ; Veins

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease*

No abstract available.
Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung*

No abstract available.
Myelitis, Transverse*