Quality of care for cardio and cerebrovascular diseases in Korea

This chapter reviews the quality of care for cardio and cerebrovascular diseases in Korea. Quality of care indicators suggest an interesting paradox in patient outcomes in Korea, where outcomes for two conditions where countries are generally either relatively good or relatively bad – AMI and stroke – tend to diverge in Korea. In seeking to unpack this paradox, and the extent to which it is influenced by the health care system and health policies, it is argued that acute care is usually delivering high quality cardiovascular care, though variations in quality exist across the country. Consistent with recommendations for improvement across the health system, the focus of efforts to improve quality of care should be prior to and after hospital admission. In particular, preventing cardiovascular disease, supporting patients in managing their health in primary care and improving ambulance services are worthwhile reforms. Similarly, establishing formal rehabilitation processes for AMI and stroke would also be a high value for money investment in Korea.