Greetings

The Monitoring Center for Korean Medicine and Western Medicine Collaboration was established to generate evidence on the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of collaborative medical care for patients.

The theoretical definition of Korean Medicine and Western Medicine Collaboration refers to a system where Western and Korean medicine doctors work together to diagnose and determine the most appropriate treatment after thorough examinations. However, challenges remain, such as the classification of follow-up care for the same condition on the same day as non-covered services. This creates complex procedures and requires significant time investments. Additionally, conflicts of interest may arise among medical staff or institutions when integrated care generates differing medical performance outcomes.

Since the amendment of the Medical Law in 2010 to promote collaborative medical systems, the number of patients utilizing these services and the frequency of visits are expected to continue increasing. To provide high-quality healthcare services, it is essential to utilize limited medical resources as effectively as possible. Therefore, generating robust evidence on the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of integrated care through the Monitoring Center is of paramount importance.

Our center aims not only to establish a solid foundation for promoting integrated care but also to contribute to public health by developing policies, creating integrated medical service fees, guiding research directions in integrated care, and developing and disseminating clinical practice guidelines and critical pathways.

Thank you.

Director of the Center
NamKwen Kim, KMD, PhD