J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2015 Aug;33(3):141-155. 10.17340/jkna.2015.3.2.

Current Status and Problems of Stroke Units in Korea: Results of a Nationwide Acute Care Hospital Survey by the Korean Stroke Society

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Neurology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
  • 3Department of Neurology, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Neurology, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 5Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea. braindoc@snu.ac.kr
  • 6Department of Preventive Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 7Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 8Department of Neurology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
  • 9Department of Neurology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The patients who received organized inpatient care are more likely to survive and to be independent. The benefit is most apparent in units based in a discrete ward, stroke unit (SU). The observed benefit is sufficiently large to warrant efforts of widespread implementation of SU care. The Korean Stroke Society surveyed acute stroke care hospitals to know the density and the distribution of SU in Korea.
METHODS
One hundred-sixty one acute care hospitals were selected among those included in the 5th Quality Audit in 2014 by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea. A senior director of stroke service in each hospital was chosen and asked about the current status of acute stroke care including SU and major obstacles to establish SU in each hospital.
RESULTS
The results of the questionnaire revealed the shortage of a total SU number and markedly uneven distribution of SU between rural and urban area. Most hospitals indicated the absence of the insurance reimbursement for medical service in SU, which served as the fundamental cause of lack of skilled manpower for establishing SU.
CONCLUSIONS
The state-of-the-art SU, which is properly certified or designated, should be spread out more evenly in Korea for the optimal treatment of public regardless of a residential district. Government should encourage and support for the establishment of SU, which is an important first step toward making it reality.

Keyword

Acute stroke; Stroke care; Stroke unit; Stroke center

MeSH Terms

Humans
Inpatients
Insurance
Insurance, Health
Korea*
Stroke*
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