Differences in Health Care Concepts Between the East and West Associate Professor of Family Medicine Medical Director International Health Care Center Severance Hospital Yonsei University College of Medicine
Scientific Approach Self Identification Problem Identification Problem Resolution
Good and difficult patients The problem is not how you serve the 95% Good Patients The problem is how to take care of the 5% Troubled or Difficult Patients
Ideal Philosophy A - Attitude S - Skill K - Knowledge
The Curse of Being Big Details lost Its not my mother! Anybody, Somebody, Nobody……
Concept of Medication West –Medication is a toxin (necessary evil) East –Medicine is a substance that corrects imbalances in the body (yin/yang; the more the better) Different combinations are effective for different diseases
Different Views on the Value of the Scientific Approach West –Scientific approach is the mainstream or the way (Evidence Based Medicine) –Other ways are alternative East –Scientific based medicine is one of many alternative treatments
Permission Informed consent –Procedure / X-ray dye etc Permission from the patient vs Surrogate Permission Privacy
Telling the patient the severity of the disease Morbidity rate Mortality at 5 years WestEast Tell all directly Avoid bad news (inform family in detail)
Nursing Differences Skin to skin care : Who provides? –Nurse or family members –Sanitation –Pain management
Payment Insurance Assistance –ex : SOS Billing vs Prepayment
Need for Reform in Korea Healthcare Education
Medicine Is it a right? or a privilege?
Problems of Healthcare in Korea Socialized Medicine Lack of Stars Lack of Services
Socialized Medicine The worry of socialism / communism
Lack of Stars Why Saudi kings do not come to Korea for treatment?
Lack of Services 1. Medical / Administrative (Payment, Credit-card etc.) 2. Door to door service lacking Crowded atmosphere
Success stories -Singapore -Hongkong -Thailand
Future possibilities Medical Tourism -New US insurance concepts -Korean Americans (Severance alumni) -Focusing on international public relations
Merging of service departments Department of External Affairs V team International Health Care Center A 24hr 365day service providing contact telephone number is an essential start Systemized approach to patients care Personal contacts are inadequate
Lets go together!