Transcript healthSDC2014FINAL

Dealing with Doctors, Hospitals, and
Medical Emergencies in Japan
When you're sick
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Knowing the difference between 市民病院
(shiminbyouin)、クリニック(Clinic)、医院 (iin)
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Knowing the different medical departments
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First visit – What to expect
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Explaining your symptoms
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When you are done
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Pharmacy
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Helpful links
市民病院 (shiminbyouin)、クリニック
(Clinic)、医院 (iin)
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クリニック(Clinic)
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Run by one doctor
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Usually focuses on one or
two medical field
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医院 (iin) or clinics
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Medium-sized clinic run
by several doctors
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Have several medical
departments
市民病院 are Municipal
Hospitals
appointments via referrals
only
総合病院
(sougoubyouin)
ク
or general hospitals
Depending on the
department, some
departments are referral
only
Medical Departments
(診療科-shinryouka）
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内科 (naika) - Internal medicine
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外科 (geka) - Surgery
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循環器科 (jyunkannkika) - Cardiology
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整形外科 (kokyuukika) - Respiratory
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消化器科 (shoukakika) - stomach, liver, digestion
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肛門科 (koumonnka) – Proctology (rectum, anus)
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泌尿器科 (hinyoukika) – Urology (kidneys)
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産婦人科 (sanfujinka) - Gynaecology
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小児科 (shounika) - Pediatrics
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眼科 (ganka) - Ophthalmology
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形成外科 (keiseigeka) – Plastic surgery
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歯科 (shika) - dentistry
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耳鼻咽喉科 (jibiinkouka) - ears, nose, throat for
colds
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神経内科 (shinkeika) - Neurology
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精神科 (seishinka) - Psychiatry
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皮膚科 (hifuka) - Dermatology
First Visit
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Walk in during working hours (診療時間
shinryoujikan）
They will ask if you are here for a check-up (診
療 shinryou) and if this is your first time (はじ
めてですか hajimetedesuka?）
They might ask you what is wrong.
They will ask for your ID, health insurance, and
the hand you health forms to fill out.
After turning in the forms, wait to be called
How to explain your symptoms
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いたいです (itaidesu) - It hurts.
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かぜです (kazedesu) - I have a cold.
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ねつがあります(netsu ga arimasu) – I have a
fever.
When you're done
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In Clinics: wait in the waiting room until called
and go to the counter and pay. They will give
you a patient card (shinsatsuken), set up another
appointment if necessary, and any prescriptions.
In City hospitals: 1)Wait till the medical
department tells you you can go 2) Go to the
calculations counter and hand over your forms
and confirm with them for another appointment
3)Then go to the cashier to pay your bills.
Visiting the Pharmacy (薬局
yakkyoku）
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Hand in your prescription and your insurance
card.
They will ask you if you have a pharmacy
booklet (薬手帳 okusuritechou）Say no and
they will make one for you.
The booklet helps keep track of what medicines
you are on
Helpful Links
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Symptoms translator:
https://sites.google.com/site/tabunkam3/home/e
n
QR reader app: Qrafter
Links to sites that list English-speaking doctors
in Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, and Numazu
(worksheet)
Japan Healthcare Info:
http://japanhealthinfo.com/
When you need surgery
Procedure – What to expect and the necessary
forms
Procedure - Prep
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He will set a date for the surgery and a day for
consultation. He will ask that you bring
someone who can understand Japanese with
you.
At the consultation, he will explain the
procedure, the risks, and the kind of anesthesia
he will use. He will then ask you to sign a
agreement form which your supervisor or your
companion needs to sign as well.
The nurse will give you a sheet of what to do or
not do the day before the surgery.
Procedure – The day
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Go straight to the the medical department and
then they will prep you and make last minute
checks (nails, hair, no accessories)
Then they will take you to a room where you
change and put away your stuff. Then you wait
until they call you.
After finishing, they will want you to go back to
medical department to check if everything is is
okay before letting you leave.
Dentist
Same procedure as visiting the doctor for the
first time.
Make sure to bring insurance card.
There was a question that asked if how much
work would I want done based on insurance
coverage.
Dentist Con't
Most people there wont speak English.
*Done by appointment, unlike most doctors in
Japan.
Usually done in small increments over time.
Dentist' Con't
Useful Japanese
I have a cavity. Do I have a cavity? 虫歯がありま
す「か」。むしばがあります「か」。
mushiba ga arimasu (ka)?
This tooth hurts.この歯がいたいです。このは
がいたいです。kono ha ga itaidesu.
Dentist
After all the paperwork and cultural differences
the actual tooth work is like a dentist back
home.
Mental Health
Resources and Support Systems
Mental Health - Coverage
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Psychiatrists (who prescribe medicine but no
counseling) are covered by National Health
Insurance.
Counseling services provided by clinical
psychologist are not covered. A session can
cost between ￥5,000 to ￥10,000+ per 50 min.
session.
CLAIR offers a subsidy of up to ￥10,000 per
year. Have to submit an application with a
receipt of a professional counseling service
thorough the BOE
Resources
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CLAIR JET Line (M-F 9:00-5:45pm) –
Provides conseuling and information
AJET Peer Support Group (20:00-7:00 daily),
number: 050-5534-5566
IMHPJ (InternationalMental Health
Professions- Japan) www.imhpj.org
TELL (Tokyo English Life Line) (9:00-23:00
daily) http://www.telljp.com
Resources
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US Embassy Reccs
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs7104.html
Japanese Society of Certified Clinical
Psychologists http://www.jsccp.jp/ (Japanese
only)
AMDA International Medical Information
Center of Japan (English – 9:00 to 17:00
weekdays) http://eng.amda-imic.com/
Taking time off
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The Culture of Taking time off
Ask the Vice Principal, they are the major
authority of what kind of leave you can take
In serious cases, should be tokkyu (special/sick
leave) and not nenkyu (paid leave). Get up to 20
consecutive days.
Every following check-up should also be under
sick leave.
For smaller cases/ones deemed not serious by
your school: you must provide a doctor's note
(shindansho) in order to get sick leave
Health Insurance
How many do we have? What is it? How do we
use it?
Types of Insurance
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Social Health Insurance (Mandatory) – Covers
70% of necessary health costs
JET Accident Insurance – covers the remaining
30%, ￥5000 deductible
Workers' Accident Compensation – covers
medical cost for injuries sustained on the job
(ie. commute)
JET Accident Insurance
What does it cover or not cover? How to use it?
What does it cover?
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Death, physical impediment, medical expenses
from accidental injury, death from sickness,
medical expenses for sickness, liability
expenses when injuring others, rescue expenses
Covers medical treatment within 180 days
Covers you aboard and for 30 days in your
home country
What does it NOT cover?
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Accidents arising from fights, suicides, crimes,
wars, riots,driving without a valid license or
driving when drunk or high, pregnancy such as
premature delivery or miscarriages
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Whiplash or back problems
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Dental treatment
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Chiropractic, acupuncture
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Injuries or illnesses that happened before the
start of the insurance policy are not covered
How to use it?
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Either you or a representative from your
contracting organization contacts the Insurance
company
It is all in Japanese, you will need to be able to
understand everything said or asked of you
They will send your forms to fill out and expect
you to sent them back promptly.
You must apply for it within 30 days of your
medical emergency/accident
Coverage for long-term illnesses
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May be eligible for special medical care
subsidies offered by local city governments.
If eligible will receive a certificate called a 特
定疾患医療受給者賞 (Tokutei Shikkan Iryou
Jyukyuushashou)
For more information and to check eligibility
(http://www.nanbyou.or.jp/english/nan_kenkyu
_45.htm)
To apply, need to get an application at your
local health center (hokenjo) and fill it up with a
Questions?