Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Medical Center (HUMC) hosted an international symposium on “Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) and Social Work Service” at the Daeyang Hall of Sejong University on October 27, 2012.

At the program, social workers from Hallym and NYPH (NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital) shared ideas on the role of medical social workers in DRG system.

Ms. Angela Heller, a social worker on the Oncology Service at NYPH, talked about “Social Work Discharge Planning and DRG,” and Mr. Vincent Luong, a social worker on the Cardiology Service at NYPH, lectured on “DRG and the Role of Medical Social Workers.” They introduced the current status of DRG system in the U.S. and shared their experiences at NYPH. In the presentation, Ms. Heller emphasized the importance of discharge planning to control the length of stay in DRG system. Then Ms. Eun-kyung Kim, a social worker at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, presented “DRG and the Social Worker's Role in Discharge Planning in Korea.”

Ms. Kim said, “I believe this meeting with NYPH is an excellent chance for social workers in Korea to think of their role in DRG system and to improve the quality of medical service for patients and their family.”

By Jong Hun Im, Int’l Operations Team, HUMC (imjonghun@hallym.or.kr)