Improvement in evaluation and management system of long-term care quality in Korea

Abstract

This report was written to review the current level of long term care quality and to improve quality management scheme in order to raise quality of care. In general, the level of quality of long term care services can be said to be low according to results of the operation evaluation of long term care facility by insurer and of opinion survey. This is mainly because there are lots of small-sized facilities and are shortage of skilled staffs. Besides, the quality control system of care has not been established properly, including quality indicators, assessment process, etc. Political measures are as follows. Firstly, the aim of evaluation needs to be defined clearly, that is to accomplish quality care. Secondly, the arrangement standards of staffs working at nursing home need to be reviewed in order to provide quality care. Thirdly, for the re-construction of quality control management of care it is necessary to give consideration to review of quality indicators and assessment process, preparation of standardized providence manual, establishment of special quality assessment body, open reporting of assessment results, development of incentives for excellent facilities with high quality.