Health Policy Manag.  2017 Dec;27(4):346-357. 10.4332/KJHPA.2017.27.4.346.

Operation Status and Improvement Plan of Continuing Hospitalization Judgement System in Mental Health Review Board

• Park SJ
• Nam YY
• Hwang TY
• Joe KH
• Jun JY
• Kim EJ
• Kim CE

• KMID: 2405638
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2017.27.4.346

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The recent revision of South Korea's Mental Health Law emphasizes the role of the Mental Health Review Board. For this study, we examined the current status of continuing hospitalization judgement in Mental Health Review Board at the national level and aimed to determine the directions of improvement.
METHODS
Using a qualitative case study as the research method, we interviewed 30 Mental Health Review Board members and analyzed the results.
RESULTS
Each municipality had very different continuing hospitalization judgement methods. In our systematic review, which consisted of document inspection, we identified reliability problems due to limitations in Mental Health Review Board's operating systems, discharge orders, etc. Additionally, continuing hospitalization judgement needs to improve the objectivity, fairness, and effectiveness of their screening examinations.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results of this study, we suggest policy proposals to improve these systems, such as standardizing examination processes, strengthening on-site inspections, increasing the independence and neutrality of judgment in Mental Health Review Board, building community mental health infrastructures, and establishing integrated management systems.

Keyword

Mental Health Review Board; Continuing hospitalization judgement system; Operation status; Improvement plan; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Hospitalization*
Judgment
Jurisprudence
Mass Screening
Mental Health*
Methods
Qualitative Research