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

市民病院 are Municipal Hospitals

appointments via referrals only

総合病院 (sougoubyouin) or general hospitals

Depending on the department, some departments are referral only

医院 (iin) or clinics

Medium-sized clinic run by several doctors

Have several medical departments

ク

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 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 ）

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

Symptoms translator: https://sites.google.com/site/tabunkam3/home/en

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 surgeryProcedure – What to expect and the necessary

forms

Procedure - Prep 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 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.

Resources and Support Systems

Mental Health

Mental Health - Coverage

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 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

US Embassy Reccs http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7104.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 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 InsuranceHow many do we have? What is it? How do we

use it?

Types of Insurance

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 InsuranceWhat does it cover or not cover? How to use it?

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

Covers medical treatment within 180 days Covers you aboard and for 30 days in your

home country

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 Injuries or illnesses that happened before the

start of the insurance policy are not covered

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.

You must apply for it within 30 days of your medical emergency/accident

Coverage for long-term illnesses

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 doctor. Then turn it in to the health center along with an proof of identity and your bank account information.

Questions?