| [ Summary ] |
There has been a recent tendency toward lowering medical bills, in relation to the increase in the number of dialysis patients. There has been a reduction in the amount paid for medical bills for dialysis patients since implementation of the amendment of medical fees, since April 2002. In relation to comprehensive medical treatments for dialysis patients, the situation has become critical. This situation had a great influence on the management of hospitals. To lower expenses, there has been an attempt to lower expenses by saving on labor in the dialysis units. As a result, there has been a great impact on the ratio of medical staff to patients in dialysis room.
Because of these severe economic constraints on the medical system, considerations concerning the necessary number personnel to safely and effectively: operate dialysis units, to produce high QOL for patients, without lowering the quality of medical treatment, due to reduced numbers of the clinical engineers had to be considered. |