This study aims to supply primary data for a study on the inclusion of home-based physical therapy services under the long-term care insurance, which was initiated on July 1, 2007. This study also aims to examine the current situation of home-based ph...
This study aims to supply primary data for a study on the inclusion of home-based physical therapy services under the long-term care insurance, which was initiated on July 1, 2007. This study also aims to examine the current situation of home-based physical therapy services in health centers, analyze long-term care insurance in foreign countries, review articles on home-based physical therapy services, and survey the need of home-based physical therapy services for 109 person, who practice in home-based physical therapy programs in health centers. The results are summarized as follows:
The main problem of home-based physical therapy services in health centers is the lack of manpower, for example, physical therapists. Moreover, there are no effective physical therapy programs owing to the lack of physical therapy items.
A review of long-term care insurance in foreign countries reveals that in Japan, this system is considered as the third option among the insurance services, while in the USA, Germany, and Netherlands, it is associated with the medical insurance system, and in the UK, with the National Health Service. A review of 49 articles concerning the effects of home-based physical services shows an improvement in daily activities and quality of life.
Korea's health care system currently does not approve of home-based physical therapy services, but we expect that it will do so in the future through community health laws or welfare laws for the elderly.
The result of the survey for the need of home-based physical therapy services in long-term care insurance indicates that the necessity of home-based physical therapy services is 97%. Therefore, home-based physical therapy services must be approved and revitalized.
In conclusion, it is necessary to legally approve home-based physical therapy services, develop physical therapy service programs, implement a relevant model in the community, estimate the demand of physical therapists, establish a standard law, build up home-based manpower, and appraise the home-based physical therapists in charge of patients as part of the integrated care system of the medical and welfare systems.