Implementation of Korean Clinical Imaging Guidelines: A Mobile App-Based Decision Support System

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to develop a mobile app-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) for implementation of Korean clinical imaging guidelines (K-CIGs) and to assess future developments therein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: K-CIGs were implemented in the form of a web-based application (http://cdss.or.kr/). The app containing K-CIGs consists of 53 information databases, including 10 medical subspecialties and 119 guidelines, developed by the Korean Society of Radiology (KSR) between 2015 and 2017. An email survey consisting of 18 questions on the implementation of K-CIGs and the mobile app-based CDSS was distributed to 43 members of the guideline working group (expert members of the KSR and Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology) and 23 members of the consultant group (clinical experts belonging to related medical societies) to gauge opinion on the future developmental direction of K-CIGs. RESULTS: The web-based mobile app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Detailed information on the grade of recommendation, evidence level, and radiation dose for each imaging modality in the K-CIGs can be accessed via the home page and side menus. In total, 32 of the 66 experts contacted completed the survey (response rate, 45%). Twenty-four of the 32 respondents were from the working group and eight were from the consulting group. Most (93.8%) of the respondents agreed on the need for ongoing development and implementation of K-CIGs. CONCLUSION: This study describes the mobile app-based CDSS designed for implementation of K-CIGs in Korea. The results will allow physicians to have easy access to the K-CIGs and encourage appropriate use of imaging modalities.

Healthcare-associated expenses due to injuries in the Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Injuries are common causes of hospital visits and deaths in the Philippines. The national healthcare-associated expenses due to these injuries have not been established.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To estimate the healthcare-associated expenses due to injuries in the Philippines. Methods. Review of patient charts and patient interviews were conducted in 21 hospitals in the Philippines. A convenience sample of patients was interviewed to ascertain other direct medical and non-medical expenses.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>RESULTS:</b> Median admission costs based on hospital bills were: road injuries: PhP10,192.25, poisoning: PhP4,402.00, burns: PhP6,521.53, animal-related: PhP5,105.92, other accidents: PhP7,545.71 and intentional injuries: PhP8,023.00. Based on survey, other expenses not stated in hospital bills include medical supplies (PhP4,000.00), diagnostic tests (PhP 2,000.00), and post-discharge expenses (PhP 1,000.00).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Expenses due to injuries varied according to cause. Admission expenses recorded in the bill were not the only healthcare-related expenses shouldered by the patient and accounted for 68.6-159.0% of the bill value.</p>

Analysis of the medical expenditure beneficiary population in Liaoning province based on SHA2011 / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective To describe and analyze the distribution of medical expenditure of Liaoning province in 2014 in terms of population beneficiary based on the System of Health Accounts 2011(SHA 2011).Methods By means of multistage and stratified sampling, a total of 252 medical institutions were selected from four cities in Liaoning province according to their economic status and geographical distribution.Macro data including the outpatient income and hospitalization income were taken into account, to calculate the beneficiary population of the province in 2014 according to SHA2011.Results GBD classification found that the highest medical expenditure category was non-communicable diseases, accounting for 63.02% in total medical expenditure.ICD classification found that respiratory disease as consuming the highest medical expenses (43.76%).The average medical expenditure of the elderly population was the highest per person, up to 3 041.70 yuan per person.Conclusions Medical expenses of non-communicable diseases, respiratory disease and elderly population were still high.Thus we need to emphasize disease prevention, and take efficient measures against such key diseases to curb the medical expenses.The elderly population calls for specific and effective measures to reduce their medical expenses.