The South Korean healthcare system has achieved rapid quantitative growth; however, it continues to face critical challenges in ensuring the fundamental right to health of its citizens. From the perspective of healthcare consumers and civil society, this article identifies structural problems such as imbalances in medical accessibility, instability in essential and emergency care, and the limited participation of consumers in healthcare policy-making. Although the constitution stipulates the state’s responsibility to protect public health, current healthcare policies often prioritize administrative efficiency and provider-centered interests over patient experiences and health outcomes. In particular, this article argues that these challenges are closely related to the inadequate functioning of an accountable healthcare management framework. Structural failures in essential care, workforce shortages, and regional disparities are insufficiently monitored and addressed at the system level, resulting in responsibilities being blurred or shifted to individual healthcare providers. Consequently, the risks and burdens arising from systemic weaknesses are ultimately borne by citizens. To address these issues, this article emphasizes two major shifts. First, meaningful consumer participation must be institutionalized within healthcare governance to strengthen accountability, transparency, and responsiveness. Second, family medicine and primary care should be reinforced as the cornerstone of a sustainable, community-based healthcare system that ensures continuity of care, prevention, and chronic disease management. Re-establishing the healthcare system based on the right to health is not merely a technical adjustment, but a structural transformation toward a responsible and accountable system in which the state clearly assumes responsibility for monitoring, learning, and corrective action.

Pneumonia frequently leads to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is associated with a high mortality risk. This study aimed to assess the impact of early bronchoscopy administered within 3 days of ICU admission on mortality in patients with pneumonia using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted using the MIMIC-IV data from 2008 to 2019. Adult ICU-admitted patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included in this study. The patients were stratified into two cohorts based on whether they underwent early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality rate. Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding variables. Results: In total, 8,916 patients with pneumonia were included in the analysis. Among them, 783 patients underwent early bronchoscopy within 3 days of ICU admission, whereas 8,133 patients did not undergo early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome of the 28-day mortality between two groups had no significant difference even after propensity matched cohorts (22.7% vs. 24.0%, P=0.589). Patients undergoing early bronchoscopy had prolonged ICU (P<0.001) and hospital stays (P<0.001) and were less likely to be discharged to home (P<0.001). Conclusions: Early bronchoscopy in severe pneumonia patients in the ICU did not reduce mortality but was associated with longer hospital stays, suggesting it was used in more severe cases. Therefore, when considering bronchoscopy for these patients, it's important to tailor the decision to each individual case, thoughtfully balancing the possible advantages with the related risks.

Pneumonia frequently leads to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is associated with a high mortality risk. This study aimed to assess the impact of early bronchoscopy administered within 3 days of ICU admission on mortality in patients with pneumonia using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted using the MIMIC-IV data from 2008 to 2019. Adult ICU-admitted patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included in this study. The patients were stratified into two cohorts based on whether they underwent early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality rate. Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding variables. Results: In total, 8,916 patients with pneumonia were included in the analysis. Among them, 783 patients underwent early bronchoscopy within 3 days of ICU admission, whereas 8,133 patients did not undergo early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome of the 28-day mortality between two groups had no significant difference even after propensity matched cohorts (22.7% vs. 24.0%, P=0.589). Patients undergoing early bronchoscopy had prolonged ICU (P<0.001) and hospital stays (P<0.001) and were less likely to be discharged to home (P<0.001). Conclusions: Early bronchoscopy in severe pneumonia patients in the ICU did not reduce mortality but was associated with longer hospital stays, suggesting it was used in more severe cases. Therefore, when considering bronchoscopy for these patients, it's important to tailor the decision to each individual case, thoughtfully balancing the possible advantages with the related risks.

Pneumonia frequently leads to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is associated with a high mortality risk. This study aimed to assess the impact of early bronchoscopy administered within 3 days of ICU admission on mortality in patients with pneumonia using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted using the MIMIC-IV data from 2008 to 2019. Adult ICU-admitted patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included in this study. The patients were stratified into two cohorts based on whether they underwent early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality rate. Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding variables. Results: In total, 8,916 patients with pneumonia were included in the analysis. Among them, 783 patients underwent early bronchoscopy within 3 days of ICU admission, whereas 8,133 patients did not undergo early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome of the 28-day mortality between two groups had no significant difference even after propensity matched cohorts (22.7% vs. 24.0%, P=0.589). Patients undergoing early bronchoscopy had prolonged ICU (P<0.001) and hospital stays (P<0.001) and were less likely to be discharged to home (P<0.001). Conclusions: Early bronchoscopy in severe pneumonia patients in the ICU did not reduce mortality but was associated with longer hospital stays, suggesting it was used in more severe cases. Therefore, when considering bronchoscopy for these patients, it's important to tailor the decision to each individual case, thoughtfully balancing the possible advantages with the related risks.

Pneumonia frequently leads to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is associated with a high mortality risk. This study aimed to assess the impact of early bronchoscopy administered within 3 days of ICU admission on mortality in patients with pneumonia using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted using the MIMIC-IV data from 2008 to 2019. Adult ICU-admitted patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included in this study. The patients were stratified into two cohorts based on whether they underwent early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality rate. Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding variables. Results: In total, 8,916 patients with pneumonia were included in the analysis. Among them, 783 patients underwent early bronchoscopy within 3 days of ICU admission, whereas 8,133 patients did not undergo early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome of the 28-day mortality between two groups had no significant difference even after propensity matched cohorts (22.7% vs. 24.0%, P=0.589). Patients undergoing early bronchoscopy had prolonged ICU (P<0.001) and hospital stays (P<0.001) and were less likely to be discharged to home (P<0.001). Conclusions: Early bronchoscopy in severe pneumonia patients in the ICU did not reduce mortality but was associated with longer hospital stays, suggesting it was used in more severe cases. Therefore, when considering bronchoscopy for these patients, it's important to tailor the decision to each individual case, thoughtfully balancing the possible advantages with the related risks.

Considerable evidence has been published since the 2020 Korean Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines were reported. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) also publishes the Consensus on CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) summary annually. This review provides expert opinions by reviewing the recent evidence on CPR and ILCOR treatment recommendations. The authors reviewed the CoSTR summary published by ILCOR in 2021 and 2022. PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome) questions for each topic were reviewed using a systemic or scoping review methodology. Two experts were appointed for each question and reviewed the topic independently. Topics suggested by the reviewers for revision or additional description of the guidelines were discussed at a consensus conference. Forty-three questions were reviewed, including 15 on basic life support, seven on advanced life support, two on pediatric life support, 11 on neonatal life support, six on education and teams, one on first aid, and one related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Finally, the current Korean CPR Guideline was maintained for 28 questions, and expert opinions were suggested for 15 questions.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes in South Korea, we conducted systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, KoreaMed, and Korean Information Service System databases were searched up to June 2022. We included observational studies and letters on OHCA during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them to those before the pandemic. Epidemiologic characteristics, including at-home OHCA, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, unwitnessed arrest, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), shockable cardiac rhythm, and airway management, were evaluated.Survival and favorable neurological outcomes were extracted. We conducted a meta-analysis of each characteristic and outcome. Results: Six studies including 4628 OHCA patients were included in this study. The incidence of at-home OHCA significantly increased and the AED use decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic [odds ratio (OR), 1.29;95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–1.55; I2 =0% and OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57–0.97; I2 =0%, respectively]. Return of spontaneous circulation after OHCA, survival, and favorable neurological outcomes during and before the pandemic did not differ significantly (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.71–1.13; I2 =37%; OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.43–1.26; I2 =72%; OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.43–1.37; I2 =70%, respectively). Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, the incidence of at-home OHCA increased and AED use decreased among OHCA patients. However, survival and favorable neurological outcomes did not significantly differ from before the pandemic. This insignificant effect of the pandemic on OHCA in South Korea could be attributed to the slow increase in patient count in the early days of the pandemic.OSF Registry (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/UGE9D).

Background: : It is called a discharge against medical advice (DAMA) that a patient needs continuous medical care, but leaving the hospital contrary to a doctor’s medical advice. DAMA also occurs in the emergency room, and sometimes it can make the patient's symptoms and states worse or even lead to death. Methods: : Results: : There are various reasons for deciding to DAMA. Among those reasons, the poor communication skills of medical staff can cause the disease insight of patient to be lowered, create unsatisfactory medical services, and create distrust for the medical staff. Conclusion : Medical staff can lower the frequency of DAMA through following patient-oriented communication : listening to the patient's symptoms and information, talking to the patient in an easy-to-understand language, and conducting two-way communication with appropriate feedback.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the satisfaction, and factors influencing the satisfaction, of patients and guardians with the internal environment and safety of ambulances in Korea. METHODS: Participants were patients and guardians who were transported by public emergency medical service ambulance to an emergency medical center in June 2015. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The degree of satisfaction with the ambulance was categorized as satisfaction (Likert scale 4 or 5) or dissatisfaction (Likert scale 1 or 2). The questionnaires comprised 3 categories: 1) demographics, 2) internal environment (space, light, temperature, humidity, soundproof, and odor), and 3) safety (vibration, leaning of body, and falling objects). RESULTS: Among 84 cases, 80.5% of patients and 83.7% of guardians gave positive responses regarding general satisfaction with the internal environment of the ambulance, but these percentages were lower regarding adequacy of space and light. Four factors had a statistically significantly influence on the degree of satisfaction: 1) sex of guardian regarding adequacy of space, 2) number of guardians regarding general satisfaction, 3) severity of patient regarding guardian's satisfaction with space, 4) diagnosis of patient (trauma vs non-trauma) regarding vibration during transport (all p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Overall, patients and guardians were satisfied with the internal environment and safety of ambulances except for adequacy of space and light.
Ambulances* ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Humans ; Humidity ; Korea* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pilot Projects* ; Vibration

Disasters, or mass casualty incidents, occurring in modern history differ from those occurring in even the recent past. In previous times, disasters were mostly the result of natural causes such as earthquakes or floods. Currently, multiple casualty incidents are often the result of human actions such as vehicular accidents involving many vehicles with multiple operators, passengers and collateral victims, terror attacks and acts of war, radiation accidents, toxic chemical releases, and pandemic infectious agent exposures. Especially, events involving accidental and intentional exposures of chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear materials, often abbreviated as CBR or CBRN events present unique challenges to the healthcare system in caring for the victims. In these mass casualty incidents, a fully comprehensive, coordinated team response involving many different components of the community healthcare system need to be mobilized to effectively meet the modern challenge of CBRN events. Necessary components of a modern emergency response include training for prompt triage, decontamination, detoxification, emergency medical treatment, as well as providing appropriate transport to the proper medical treatment facility. Meeting these challenges requires maintaining ongoing communications between agencies charged with meeting the disaster to allow acquisition of information and location for the patients, transfer the information to both the Central Medical Emergency Response Center and the designated hospital. While sharing this information was problematic in the past, modern wireless communications and information technologies provide convenient means for the rapid sharing of important patient data and current situational details. Finally, improving modern disaster response requires the development of a disaster response plan, ongoing training in implementing the plan including disaster scenario simulation, and budgeting to acquire the necessary equipment involved for the emergency response personnel to meet the presenting crisis.
Budgets ; Community Health Services ; Decontamination ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disasters* ; Earthquakes ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Floods ; History, Modern 1601- ; Humans ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; Pandemics ; Radioactive Hazard Release ; Transportation of Patients ; Triage