An Estimation of Optimal Medical Manpower in Mental Hospital

Lee, Dong Eun; Suh, Tong Woo; Lee, Tae Kyung; Park, Jong Ik; Hong, Jin Pyo; Kwon, Soo Hie; Lee, Jong Il; Chung, Eun Ki; Chang, Dong Won

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to surmise appropriate level of medical manpower of mental hospital from the perspectives of clinical experts, psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse.
METHODS
First, we wlleded data on medical manpower of domestic mental hospitals and foreign mental hospitals. Next, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses were asked to complete a survey. We estimated the optimal level of medical manpower examining appropriate volume of medical services that should be provided for psychiatric patients, and analizying the survey carried out by direct questions.
RESULTS
The number of psychiatrists of group A of private mental hospitals was 1.7 times more than that of public mental hospitals; when the number of psychiatrists in public mental hospitals was regarded as 1.0, and group B of private mental hospitals was 0.5 times, and the university hospitals 8.2 times. The number of psychiatric of group A of private hospitals was 1.5 times more than that of public mental hospitals; when the number of psychiatric nurses in public mental hospitals was regarded as 1.0, the group B of private mental hospitals was 0.6 times and university hospitals was 2.6 times. The foreign mental hospitals had more medical manpowers in all occupations than domestic mental hospitals. The number of psychiatrists estimated according to the first method was 11.1 persons and the number of psychiatric nurses was 26.3 persons per 100 beds, and the number of psychiatrists estimated according to the second method was 4.3 persons per and the number of psychiatric nurses was 20.8 persons per 100 beds.
CONCLUSION
The estimated optimal number of psychiatrists for mental hospital is 4.3 persons and of psychiatric nurses was 20.8 persons per 100 beds. However, these numbers can be flexible depending on the ratio of short-term acute patients and long term chronic patients.