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Rethinking the Role of the Public Health Clinic: Comparison of Outpatient Utilization in the Public Health Clinics and Private Clinics in Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Agnus M. Kim

    (Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Seongcheol Cho

    (Regional Emergency Care Center, Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Hyun Joo Kim

    (Department of Nursing Science, Shinsung University, Dangjin 31801, Korea)

  • Min-Woo Jo

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea)

  • Sang Jun Eun

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Korea)

  • Jin Yong Lee

    (Public Health Medical Service, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 07061, Korea)

Abstract

Korea has experienced an overall expansion of access to care in the past few decades, which necessitated the reconsideration of the role of the public health clinics (PHC) as a primary care provider. The recent controversy about the outpatient copayment waiver for the elderly in the PHC is in the same vein. This study compared the outpatient utilization of the PHC and private clinics, and investigated its factors. Data were acquired from the National Patient Sample in 2013. Compared with private clinics, the patients in the PHC were more elderly and had less severe conditions. Being elderly, the status of National Health Insurance (NHI) beneficiaries, less comorbidities, and low total claim costs were found to be factors for choosing the PHC over private clinics. These results suggest that the elderly, who are the main beneficiaries of copayment waivers in the PHC, are the most likely to use the outpatient service by the PHC. The functions of the PHC need to be rearranged according to the recent advancements in the health care system in Korea. Diverting the resources and efforts from outpatient care to functions that best serve the health of the population should be considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Agnus M. Kim & Seongcheol Cho & Hyun Joo Kim & Min-Woo Jo & Sang Jun Eun & Jin Yong Lee, 2018. "Rethinking the Role of the Public Health Clinic: Comparison of Outpatient Utilization in the Public Health Clinics and Private Clinics in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1312-:d:153956
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jin Yong Lee & Sang Jun Eun & Hyun Joo Kim & Min-Woo Jo, 2016. "Finding the Primary Care Providers in the Specialist-Dominant Primary Care Setting of Korea: A Cluster Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Agnus M. Kim & Seongcheol Cho & Hyun Joo Kim & Hyemin Jung & Min-Woo Jo & Jin Yong Lee & Sang Jun Eun, 2018. "Primary Care Patients’ Preference for Hospitals over Clinics in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jailani Anis-Syakira & Suhana Jawahir & Nurul Salwana Abu Bakar & Sarah Nurain Mohd Noh & Nurul Iman Jamalul-Lail & Normaizira Hamidi & Sondi Sararaks, 2022. "Factors Affecting the Use of Private Outpatient Services among the Adult Population in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.

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