Abstract
Primary care is essential among the strategies for expansion of healthy life expectancy and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to suggest strategies for improvement of primary care in Korea, in light of the current Korean condition. Data and reports related to primary care and medical were collected and analyzed, applying the structure-process-outcome frame, taking into consideration current medical care delivery system. Current primary care system is considered inappropriate and inefficient from many perspectives. In particular, continuous and comprehensive management of chronic disease is needed. To effectively carry out the function of primary care, an incentive system for patients' and physicians' motivation is needed. Also, support for improvement of the capability to manage patients and monitor health outcomes has to be considered. It is hoped that the government will develop a long-term vision and make ongoing investments.
Figures and Tables
Table 1
Values are presented as no. of beds/1,000 population.
From Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. OECD reviews of health care quality: Korea 2012 [Internet]. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; 2012 [10].
Table 2
Values are presented as %.
From Oh YH. National health utilization survey: the result of analysis from medical utilization. Seoul: Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2011 [13].
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