Analysis of the Status of Convalescent Hospitals Certified from January to March 2024: Focus on Korean Medicine Services

Background: The Republic of Korea has maintained a stable number of convalescent hospitals; however, the presence of Korean Medicine(KM) doctors in such establishments has increased. Despite this trend, it is hard to find the recent researches on KM within convalescent hospitals. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the current status of convalescent hospitals, particularly focused on patient characteristics and the provision of KM.Method: Data were obtained from the Health Insurance Review&Assessment Service, relying on the Korea Institute Healthcare Accreditation, spanning from January to March 2024. Analysis was conducted through the categorization of in-patients and the provision of KM, utilizing R software.Results: Among the 143 convalescent hospitals, the majority(83.9%) provided KM, with 43.4% of them located near Seoul. Convalescent hospitals offering KM were characterized by a higher number of doctors(p=0.003) and a greater total bed number(p<0.001). The hospitals with KM specializing in dementia care located near Seoul and exhibited a higher proportion of doctors, total beds(p=0.010), uninsured beds, grade of certification evaluation(Gr) and supported activities of daily living(ADL)(p<0.001, respectively). However, the hospitals with KM specializing in cancer care had higher rate of doctors(p=0.036), total beds, uninsured beds, Gr, and average daily out-of-pocket per person and lower levels of self ADL(p<0.001, respectively). In addition, the hospitals with specialists in KM belonging to dementia care only located near Seoul(p=0.042) and exhibited a higher rate of total beds(p=0.007).Conclusion: These findings indicate significant differences among convalescent hospitals based on patient characteristics and the provision of KM. Consequently, such distinctions merit consideration in future studies.