Sapporo Fire Department Transforms Emergency Services with Digital Solutions

On November 4, 2025, Claris International Inc. announced the successful implementation of a digital emergency response application named "NSER mobile" by the Sapporo Fire Department in collaboration with TXP Medical. The app utilizes the Claris FileMaker low-code development platform and aims to enhance emergency transport services across Japan.

Background and Challenges

As one of Japan’s prominent cities, Sapporo, with a population of approximately 2 million, experiences over 120,000 emergency calls annually, a figure that continues to rise due to an aging population and an increasing number of tourists exceeding 15 million per year. This rising demand presents significant challenges, particularly regarding the notorious issue of "transport difficulties".

Kohsuke Watanabe from the Emergency Division of the Sapporo Fire Department explained, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming hospital admissions sometimes required reaching out to more than 30 facilities for a single case. Consequently, our first responders were increasingly fatigued, making the introduction of a digital solution indispensable to reduce their workload."

With these challenges in mind, the Sapporo Fire Department chose to collaborate with TXP Medical to create a robust digital solution tailored for their emergency teams.

Solution: NSER Mobile Application

The NSER mobile application, developed using the Claris FileMaker platform, is designed specifically for emergency responders. This tool allows paramedics to use iPads and iPhones to enter patient information, confirm acceptance at hospitals, and share details about potential transportation destinations in real-time. Previously, such tasks depended on phone calls and paper documents. By digitizing these communications, Sapporo's emergency response times and accuracy have significantly improved. Currently, 36 emergency teams (approximately 350 personnel) and 66 medical institutions within Sapporo are utilizing the NSER mobile app, which also integrates with emergency services from nearby areas such as Eniwa City and the Ishikari North District.

Benefits of the NSER Mobile Implementation

1. Bulk Confirmation of Admissions: Prior to the app’s use, emergency teams had to confirm hospital admissions one by one. Now, they can send bulk requests for patient admissions, significantly reducing response times.
2. Sharing of Incident Photographs: The app allows for the transmission of injury photographs to hospitals, which aids in assessing the patient's condition before arrival. This capability has received high praise from medical staff, as it ensures accurate information is conveyed beyond just verbal descriptions.
3. Efficiency in Data Sharing: Paramedics can quickly capture and share images of driver's licenses, health insurance cards, and medication lists using iPads, which can be automatically processed using OCR technology before being sent to the hospital.
4. Reduced Administrative Time: The integration of iPads and the application has considerably diminished the time dispatched crews spend on paperwork, allowing them to focus on necessary tasks, such as training the next generation of responders.
5. Enhanced GPS Tracking: The app’s functionality empowers teams to accurately determine the real-time location of ambulances using GPS capabilities.
6. Strengthened Collaboration: With the ability to share information across platforms, there is now enhanced collaboration between Sapporo's fire department and nearby medical facilities, improving efficiency and acceptance capabilities during emergencies.

A System Created by Medical Professionals

The CEO of TXP Medical and an emergency medicine specialist, Tomohiro Sonou, states, "In 2017, I developed a system called 'NEXT Stage ER' for acute care facilities using Claris FileMaker, leading to the establishment of TXP Medical. Following this, we released the NSER mobile app, aimed to directly address the needs expressed by emergency teams."

Sonou emphasizes the need to align technology with real-world practices rather than forcing advanced IT solutions upon medical responders. Their mission is to enhance communication between paramedics and medical establishments through user-centered development tailored to the needs identified in real-life emergency scenarios.

The Future of Emergency Services in Japan

The innovative approach taken by the Sapporo Fire Department is drawing attention from emergency response teams across the nation. Sonou envisions broader digitalization efforts within the medical and emergency response sectors. "We must continue fostering digital integration in our services, ensuring that the success we’ve found in Sapporo can be replicated nationwide, further improving the quality of healthcare."

This initiative not only showcases how digital technology can empower emergency services but also exemplifies how collaboration between humans and technology can save lives, marking a remarkable shift in the future of emergency medicine.

For details and videos about this initiative, check out Claris.

Images were graciously provided by the Sapporo Fire Department, Ishikari North District Fire Headquarters, and Sapporo Utsukushigaoka Neurosurgery Hospital.