A Baseline Study on Quality Improvement Strategy for Appropriate Management of Medical Supplies and Goods at General Hospitals in Korea

Lee, Yeon-Hee; Yoon, Seok-Jun

Journal of Korean Society Quality Assurance Health Care 2002;9(1): 6.
Published online May 30, 2002.

우리 나라 종합병원 진료재료 구매와 재고관리 질 향상 방안에 관한 연구

이연희¹, 윤석준²

¹단국대학교의료원 생명과학연구소
²고려대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실

A Baseline Study on Quality Improvement Strategy for Appropriate Management of Medical Supplies and Goods at General Hospitals in Korea

Yeon-Hee Lee¹, Seok-Jun Yoon²

¹Institute of Life Science, Dankook University Medical Center
²Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University

Abstract

Background
This study was conducted to investigate the current situation of medical supply purchasing and stock management at general hospitals having more than 150 beds in Korea and to find methods of effective purchasing and optimal stock management.
Methods
Survey was done from staff at the purchasing departments of 229 general hospitals throughout Korea. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire between January 3 to March 15, 2001. The survey form was returned from 88 hospitals (rate of return: 38.4%).
Results
Firstly, 13.6% of the hospitals did not carry the optimal stock of medical supplies, the lead time optimal stock was 3 weeks or longer in 64.4% of the hospitals. Secondly, since 69.8% of the hospitals showed passive attitude toward training on purchasing management and stock management techniques. Thirdly, as for the question on the presence or absence of a deliberation committee for purchasing of new medical supplies, 60% of the hospitals with less than 300 beds did not have one, and 9.4% of the hospitals opened the deliberation committee less than twice a year.
Conclusion
At the time of purchasing new medical supplies, purchasing should be done according to the decision by the deliberation committee so that no deduction is made at the time of claiming insurance, and by setting a certain period of time, purchasing of those medical supplies that were not purchased during this period needs to be done according to the decision by the deliberation committee.

Key words medical supplies;stock management;hospital management;