Transcript healthSDC
Dealing with Doctors, Hospitals, and
Medical Emergencies in Japan
When you're sick
Knowing the difference between 市民病院
(shiminbyouin)、クリニック(Clinic)、医院 (iin)
Knowing the different medical departments
First visit – What to expect
Explaining your symptoms
When you are done
Pharmacy
Helpful links
市民病院 (shiminbyouin)、クリニック
(Clinic)、医院 (iin)
クリニック(Clinic)
Run by one doctor
Usually focuses on one or
two medical field
医院 (iin) or clinics
Medium-sized clinic run
by several doctors
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)
内科 (naika) - Internal medicine
外科 (geka) - Surgery
循環器科 (jyunkannkika) - Cardiology
整形外科 (kokyuukika) - Respiratory
消化器科 (shoukakika) - stomach, liver, digestion
肛門科 (koumonnka) – Proctology (rectum, anus)
泌尿器科 (hinyoukika) – Urology (kidneys)
産婦人科 (sanfujinka) - Gynaecology
小児科 (shounika) - Pediatrics
眼科 (ganka) - Ophthalmology
形成外科 (keiseigeka) – Plastic surgery
歯科 (shika) - dentistry
耳鼻咽喉科 (jibiinkouka) - ears, nose, throat for
colds
神経内科 (shinkeika) - Neurology
精神科 (seishinka) - Psychiatry
皮膚科 (hifuka) - Dermatology
First Visit
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
いたいです (itaidesu) - It hurts.
かぜです (kazedesu) - I have a cold.
ねつがあります(netsu ga arimasu) – I have a
fever.
When you're done
In Clinics, wait in the waiting room until your
name is called and go to the counter and pay.
They will give you a patient card and will set
up another appointment if necessary. They will
also provide you with any prescriptions.
In larger hospitals, it's a bit more annoying:
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)
Turn 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 is very important it helps them
keep track of what medicines you are on and for
every visit to the pharmacy remember to bring
it.
Helpful Links
Symptoms translator:
https://sites.google.com/site/tabunkam3/home/e
n
QR reader app: QRReader (caution)
SAME list of English speaking doctors in
Shizuoka:
http://www.samenet.jp/english/life/m_list.html
When you need surgery
Procedure – What to expect and the necessary
forms
Procedure - Prep
He will set a date for the surgery and also 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 before the surgery.
Procedure – The day
Go straight to the the medical department and
then they will prep you and make last minute
checks (like whether your nails are short
enough)
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.
Taking time off
In such cases, you should be using tokkyu
(special/sick leave) and not your nenkyu (paid
leave). Make sure your school is doing so. We
get up to 20 consecutive days.
Every following check-up should also be under
sick leave.
JET Accident Insurance
What is it? How to use it
What is it?
Travel insurance (Japan and overseas)
Insurance that will pay what your health
insurance/worker's insurance doesn't cover
What does it cover?
Death, physical impediment, medical expenses
from accidental injury, death from sickness,
medical expenses for sickness, liability
expenses when injuring others, rescue expenses
Doesn't cover Medical expenses under¥5000
What does it NOT cover?
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
Whiplash or back problems
Dental treatment
Chiropractic, acupuncture
How to use it?
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.