• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2024

This study provides the underlying data on the inclusion of medical technologists in the category of medical personnel. Medical personnel are defined in the Medical Service Act as physicians, dentists, oriental medicine doctors, midwives, and nurses. In the act, medical technologists shall be classified into clinical laboratory technologists (clinical pathology technologists in the Korean language), radiological technologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dental technologists, and dental hygienists. Although South Korea's medical personnel do not include medical technologists, Japan and Taiwan define them as medical personnel. Various standard occupational classification such as International Standard Classification of Occupations 2008, Korean Standard Classification of Occupations 2017, Japan Standard Occupational Classification 2009, Taiwan Standard Occupational Classification 2010, and USA Standard Occupational Classification 2018 were compared. The education system for medical health technologists was explained to include 4-year university and 3-year junior college programs. The roles of medical technologists in medical practice, therapy, and medical assistance were outlined. These basic materials incorporate the need for discussions about the meaning of including medical technologists in the type of medical personnel. These discussions will contribute to the legalization of medical technologists' professionality with regard to their inclusion in the type of medical personnel.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.627-635
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare the job stress, job satisfaction, turnover intention, and job performance feelings of radiological technologists, physical therapists, and medical laboratory technologists working at university hospitals and general hospitals. The subjects were 114 general practitioners and 217 university hospital workers who are engaged in occupations of radiological technologists, physical therapists, and medical laboratory technologists in the age groups 20-50 years living in Incheon Metropolitan City. Data collection was conducted from April 1, 2017 to April 30, and data analysis was performed using the SPSS/WIN 23 statistical program. There were statistically significant difference in the job stress of medical technician by age, marriage, occupation, hospital size, position, parenting form, employment type, and lunch break. Job stress by occupation was highest in medical laboratory technologists, followed by radiological technologists and physical therapists. Job satisfaction was the highest among physical therapists. followed by radiological technologists and medical laboratory technologists. There were significant differences in age, occupation, parenting form, type of employment, and lunch break according to demographic characteristics. In order to reduce the job stress and job satisfaction of the medical technician working at the hospital, the development of the job environment should be sought and the hospital should also be removed from the authoritarian management system.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.66-76
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• 2020

Purpose:Hospitals provide top medical service using exceptional manpower, medical technology, and state-of-the-art equipment, thus raising the standard of customer satisfaction. In addition, their medical service is becoming higher than before. One-stop service is a good way to improve the quality of customer-centered service as a qualitative marketing strategy. This study thus aims to facilitate subsequent research and compare customer satisfaction before and after one-stop service. Methods: The study included 72 patients who received the reserved examination and one-stop service for 20 days from April 23 to May 12, 2014. The surveyed questionnaire data were analyzed using SPSS 18.00. Results: The comparison results of customer satisfaction showed that the satisfaction score was generally high in the areas of kindness of examination staff, the speedy/accuracy of work processing of examination staff, and the kindness of reservation staff. The group before one-stop service showed their dissatisfaction with repeated visits and difficulty of booking a desired day. The group after one-stop service showed dissatisfaction with the long waiting time for examination or same-day treatment. Conclusion: The one-stop service showed good results, but new uncomfortable issues for the customer were revealed as well, which may result in more work of employees. Considering the characteristics of various clinical departments, the author hopes to find an efficient operation plan through the development and improvement of an appropriate one-stop service method.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.503-512
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to check the extent to which "instruction of physician or dentist" defined in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act is applied in relation to radiography examination procedures for radiological technologists. In addition, it is intended to present basic data on the requirement to revise the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act in the radiological technologist's duty area and scope of work, The subjects of this study were radiological technologists with license, and the response data were collected after sending the questionnaire link written on the online questionnaire form. The final number of respondents were 1,018, and the response rate was 6.8%. Most of the negative responses were "I have never received 'instruction' for radiologic examination by a physician or dentist, including a radiologist in a medical environment." There were a high perception that "the professionalism in radiation examination on radiological technologists are higher than that of a physician or dentist." They answered that the current continuing education has a great impact on maintaining and continuing professionalism and learning new knowledge in the radiology field. In addition, the radiological technologists provide a very high level of education in areas related to radiography procedure ethics such as patient care, patient safety, and patient privacy protection, as well as specialized fields such as radiation-related examination methods, radiography examination dose, and patient exposure dose. Radiological technologists replied that they were receiving it consistently. In conclusion, in the current medical environment, the 'instruction' of a physician or dentist cannot be seen as being realistically performed. The phrase 'instruction' of a physician or dentist as defined in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act is considered inappropriate in respect of the fact that the state recognizes the qualifications of the medical service technologist through a license. It is thought that revision to a new term suitable for the current medical environment is necessary.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2021

According to the changes of the medical environment of the times, it is necessary to discuss the issues of the doctor's medical guidance and to conduct continuous research so that alternatives can be prepared systematically. Furthermore, in order to enhance the professionalism of radiological technologists and to develop the medical technician system, the new Radiological Technologist Independent Act has been established, which contains the overall contents of the scope of work, professional qualifications, and specialized education of radiological technologists, and provides quality medical services to patients through professional procedures and treatment. In order to increase the level of medical care, the purpose, definition, mission, role, and scope of work specified in the Medical Act, Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act, the Enforcement Decree, and the Enforcement Rules were variously analyzed and new directions were presented. First, the definition of a medical technician should use a generic term so that the factors of conflict and prejudice could be resolved. Second, change the doctor's guide to doctor's prescription; and then legislate the authority to sign and write medical records after examination by radiological technologists, thereby prohibiting unlicensed technicians that seriously endanger patient safety. Third, an accurate definition of radiological technologists' roles should be established; not only selection and management of radiological technologists' work but also procedures and treatment for each radiology field should be specified to suit the current medical system. Fourth, a professional radiological technologists' qualification system and a specialized education system should be established in order to secure human resources that could provide patients trust in procedures and treatment based on professional knowledge and experience in the field of radiology. Fifth, the Education and Evaluation Institute should be operated in Korea education system to educate the professional knowledge and competency for students. In addition, it is necessary to in-depth analysis of foreign cases could be applied to the medical system and education system in Korea; it could strive to nurture systematic human resources.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.511-524
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide policy recommendations for manpower planning by forecasting the supply and demand of Medical Technologists. Supply was estimated using an in-and-out movement method with a demographic method based on a baseline projection model. Demand was projected according to a demand-based method using the number of clinico-pathologic examinations taken for Medical Technologists. Over- or undersupply of Medical Technologists will depend on the productivity scenario and assumptions and ultimately on governmental policy direction. In other words, whether the production of Medical Technologists is higher or lower than the current level depends on the government policy to consider insurance finances. In this study, we assessed 'productivity scenario 3' based on the productivity as of 2012, when the government's policy direction was not considered. Based on the demand scenario using the ARIMA model, the supply of Medical Technologists is expected to be excessive. This oversupply accounts for less than 10% of the total and therefore should not be a big problem. However, given that the employment rate of Medical Technologists is 60%, it is necessary to consider policies to utilize the unemployed. These measures should expand the employment opportunities for the unemployed. To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the functions of laboratories in the public health center, to increase the quota of Medical Technologists, to assure their status, to establish a permanent inspection system for outpatient patients, and to expand the export of Medical Technologists overseas.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.555-563
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• 2021

The rapidly developing medical environment has required the expertise and social responsibility of radiologic technologists and needs to be enacted to support them. Therefore, the purpose of this study tried to present the basis for enacting advanced radiologic technologists act in Korea by studying the United State's license system to reflect the changes of the times. As a result, we were suggested the following conclusions. First, granting the legal status of advanced radiologic technologists is a global trend. Second, in order to legislate the advanced radiologic technologists license system, the formation of an industry-government-academic council should be preceded. Last, we could be improved public health and medical care and advance laws and systems by the legalization of radiologic technologist act.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2017

This study aimed at characterizing policy directions to foster competent medical technologists by analyzing the opinions of professors and medical technologists regarding university education and national licensing systems. An online survey questionnaire was distributed to 255 professors and 4,000 medical technologists in August of 2016. Fifty-nine professors (23%) and 1,099 medical technologists (27.7%) responded to the survey. The results were evaluated using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis. Professors and medical technologists agreed that there needs to be an improvement and standardization in both education at universities and practical training at hospitals. Moreover, both groups also thought that it was necessary to reform practical examinations and make improvements in the current licensing system. According to the survey results, professors and medical technologists thought that, the improvement of the quality of university education and hospital practical training should be essential, and the reform of existing national licensing examination should be necessary.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.525-534
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• 2021

In order to provide high-quality medical services to the public and contribute to the improvement of public health, it is necessary to enact an independent law according to the work of radiological technologists. Therefore, this study intends to review the regulations related to radiographers in the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act. and to present opinions and directions for enactment of individual laws for radiological technologists. An online survey was conducted to 15,000 radiological technologists working in medical institutions and education sites in Korea; 1,027 people (6.85%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of 3 questions on demographic characteristics, 5 questions on the scope of work, and 12 questions on the revision of the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act. and the establishment of the Radiological Technologist Independent Act. Reliability and factor analysis were performed on 9 questions measured on a Likert 5-point scale in "Revision of the Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act. and the establishment of the Radiological echnologist Independent Act" among the questionnaire items. Reliability for the total 9 questions was Chronbach α=0.728. There was a high perception that the regulations related to radiological technologists were insufficient in the current Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act., and the perception that examinations performed by radiological technologists at medical institutions were included in medical practice was high. If the Radiological Technologist Independent Act is enforced, a high percentage of respondents said that they could receive legal protection through the institutionalization of the scope of work, that the status of radiological technologists would be improved, and the scope of work would be expanded. The response that the scope of work of radiological technologists should be included was the highest at 96.6%. In the analysis according to demographic characteristics, it was found that 96.7% of the respondents were agreed regardless of the factors. Radiological technologists will have to work hard to secure the public health by coping with new radiology devices, procedures and treatment methods. Therefore, as the results of this study, it is expected that the enactment and implementation of the Radiological Technologist Independent Act will contribute to the improvement of the quality of treatment for patients and to the public health.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.93-104
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• 2019

This study examined the relationship between the number of medical technologists and the medical test count. Data was obtained from 441 medical technologists in a hospital through a self-reported questionnaire. The Pearson correlation test, student's t-test, ANOVA or descriptive statistics were performed for data analysis. The distribution of medical technologist according to the size of hospitals was small 5.8, medium 14.9, large 25.8, and super 45.4. The analysis demonstrated a relationship between the number of medical technologists and the number of medical tests in the field, number of clinical tests per MT, and number of optimal medical test per MT according to the hospital size (P<0.001). The average time for quality control by the department at a higher hospital was less than two hours. In terms of the satisfaction of salary, work environment, test accomplishment, and welfare service, the dissatisfaction of medical technologists in small and medium hospitals was higher than those in large and super hospitals. Overall, a focus on intensifying systemic supplementation and improving the condition of medical technologists is needed to provide reliable data for medical examinations in medical areas.