title: The State of Anesthetic Services in Korea: A National Survey of the Status of Anesthesia Provider in the 2011-2013 Period.
abstract: Active involvement of anesthesiologists in perioperative management is important to ensure the patients' safety. This study aimed to investigate the state of anesthetic services in Korea by identifying anesthetic service providers. From the insurance claims data of National Health Insurance for 3 yr, the Korean state of anesthetic services was analyzed. The claims for anesthesia from the medical institutions which hire their own anesthesiologist or with an anesthesiologist invitation fee are assumed to be the anesthesia performed by anesthesiologists. The annual anesthetic data were similar during the study period. In 2013, total counts of 2,129,871 were composed with general anesthesia (55%), regional anesthesia (36%) and procedural sedation with intravenous anesthetics (9%). About 80% of total cases of general anesthesia were performed in general hospitals, while more than 60% of the regional anesthesia and sedation were performed in the clinics and hospitals under 100 beds. Non-anesthesiologists performed 273,006 cases of anesthesia (13% of total) including 36,008 of general anesthesia, 143,134 of regional anesthesia, and 93,864 of sedation, mainly in the clinics and hospitals under 100 beds. All procedural sedations in the institutions without direct employed anesthesiologist were performed by non-anesthesiologists. Significant numbers of anesthesia are performed by non-anesthesiologist in Korea. To promote anesthetic services that prioritize the safety of patients, the standard to qualify anesthetic service is required. Surgeons and patients need to enhance their perception of anesthesia, and the payment system should be revised in a way that advocates anesthesiologist-performed anesthetic services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yongsuk
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6900-3056
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Business Administration, Woosong University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Man
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9929-5499
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Gyu
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4847-2421
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Young
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4893-3195
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Hyuk
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4834-7620
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kook Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6493-0472
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Kyu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0824-1402
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9353-2644
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anesthesia; Insurance, Health; Operating Rooms; Patient Safety; Surgeons