Current status of neurosurgical and neurointensive care units in Korea: A brief report on nationwide survey results

Kwang Wook Jo, Hoon Kim, Do Sung Yoo, Dong Keun Hyun, Jin Hwan Cheong, Hae Kwan Park, Bong Jin Park, Byung Moon Cho, Young Woo Kim, Tae Hee Kim, Insoo Han, Sang Weon Lee, Taek Hyun Kwon

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Objective: The purpose of this study is identify the operation status of the neurosurgical care units (NCUs) in neurosurgical residency training hospitals nationwide and determine needed changes by comparing findings with those obtained from the Korean Neurosurgical Society (KNS) and Korean Society of Neurointensive Care Medicine (KNIC) survey of 2010. Method: This survey was conducted over 1 year in 86 neurosurgical residency training hospitals and two neurosurgery specialist hospitals and focused on the following areas: 1) the current status of the infrastructure and operating systems of NCUs in Korea, 2) barriers to installing neurointensivist team systems, 3) future roles of the KNS and KNIC, and 4) a handbook for physicians and practitioners in NCUs. We compared and analyzed the results of this survey with those from a KNIC survey of 2010. Results: Seventy seven hospitals (87.5%) participated in the survey. Nineteen hospitals (24.7%) employed a neurointensivist or faculty member; Thirty seven hospitals (48.1%) reported high demand for neurointensivists, and 62 hospitals (80.5%) stated that the mandatory deployment of a neurointensivist improved the quality of patient care. Forty four hospitals (57.1%) believed that hiring neurointensivist would increase hospital costs, and in response to a question on potential earnings declines. In terms of potential solutions to these problems, 70 respondents (90.9%) maintained that additional fees were necessary for neurointensivists’ work, and 64 (83.1%) answered that direct support was needed of the personnel expenses for neurointensivists. Conclusion: We hope the results of this survey will guide successful implementation of neurointensivist systems across Korea.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)519-531
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
    Volume63
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020 Jul

    Keywords

    • Critical care
    • Intensive care units
    • Neurosurgery
    • Prognosis
    • Republic of Korea

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Surgery
    • Neuroscience(all)
    • Clinical Neurology

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