A review of the present state and future policy alternatives for home visit nursing services in Korea

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the current state of home visit nursing services in the Korean context and to suggest future policy directions.

Design: First, the three home visit nursing services that have developed in Korea are compared using the analytic framework provided by Gilbert and Terrell in 2012. The framework is based on four dimensions of social welfare: users, services, source of funds, and service delivery process. Second, we perform a strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analysis to suggest comprehensive and constructive home visit nursing service policies for the future.

Results: Specifically, we advocate the creation of an organization that steers the central government to operate an integrated management organization to distribute services and reduce redundancy for preventing the waste of both medical and state financial resources. This study also recommends the development of educational programs to improve the quality of services and service evaluation criteria for the objective assessment of those services.

Conclusions: These policy guidelines may prove useful both for Korea and for other countries that intend to prepare or revise their home visit nursing service systems.

Keywords: Korea; home care services; policy.