Chichibu Medical Area Introduces Innovative Online Healthcare System by 2025
In a significant advancement for the healthcare sector in Japan, the Chichibu Medical Area, under the leadership of Chichibu City Mayor Kazuhiko Seino and in collaboration with FastDoctor Inc., is poised to implement an innovative online medical system starting from July 1, 2025. This initiative aims to enhance the nighttime emergency medical response across the vast and varied geography of the Chichibu region, which includes Chichibu City, Yokoze Town, Minano Town, Nagatoro Town, and Ogano Town.
The Chichibu Medical Area spans approximately one-quarter of Saitama Prefecture, situated in the mountainous region of western Saitama. This area is characterized by its sparse population and limited medical resources, with a designation as the only 'underpopulated secondary medical area' in the prefecture. Due to the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, especially during nighttime hours, maintaining a robust emergency medical system has become increasingly challenging. Currently, only two hospitals are on duty at night, making it necessary for patients to travel long distances for urgent care, which raises major accessibility issues.
Recognizing these challenges, the Chichibu Medical Council has taken a proactive stance by opting to integrate an online healthcare solution, working alongside FastDoctor, which has a proven track record in enhancing local medical systems through telemedicine. This system will serve as a complementary service to traditional healthcare, particularly to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and lighten the burden on on-call hospitals.
FastDoctor will establish a dedicated online consultation service specifically for residents of the five municipalities within the region. This will allow individuals suffering from non-critical conditions to access medical care from the comfort of their own homes, every night, all year round. Upon accessing the service through the respective municipal websites, residents can register their insurance information and receive a telemedicine consultation from associated healthcare facilities in an estimated time frame of 15 minutes, extending to 30 minutes during busy periods like the New Year.
Following the consultation, prescriptions can be picked up at a nearby pharmacy or delivered to the patient's home the next day. In cases where immediate tests or face-to-face consultations are deemed necessary, the local coordination team will ensure timely transfers to emergency hospitals in the region.
The service will cater to adults and children alike, providing internal medicine and pediatric consultations. This clear division of care roles will ensure that minor ailments are treated through online channels while more serious cases receive immediate attention at local emergency facilities. The aim is to create an equitable healthcare framework, granting all residents fair access to medical services while maximizing the effective use of medical resources, ultimately leading to a sustainable medical environment for the entire community.
The operational hours for this telemedicine service will be from 7 PM to 8 AM, every day of the year. Residents are encouraged to access the dedicated online portal via their municipality's website. The system will operate under health insurance provisions, with an additional service fee of 330 yen applicable.
The 'Municipality Online Medical Service' is designed to support local healthcare systems, especially during high-demand periods such as evenings, weekends, and public holidays. With a robust plan in place, local stakeholders will collaboratively outline specific roles and adapt to the regional context. This implementation marks the twelfth deployment across Japan and the first of its kind to operate within a medical area framework.
FastDoctor, founded in 2016, operates the largest medical support platform in Japan, connecting roughly 5,000 physicians with various medical resources. Committed to addressing local healthcare concerns and societal needs, the platform not only enhances medical access for citizens and businesses but also strengthens regional healthcare systems. FastDoctor seeks to become the go-to healthcare partner for one hundred million individuals, advocating for the alleviation of anxiety for patients while supporting the well-being of healthcare providers.
For press inquiries, please contact Megumi Tajima from FastDoctor's public relations team at [email protected] or call 090-7843-9782.
With this innovative online healthcare initiative, the Chichibu region is set to pave the way for a new model of healthcare that balances immediate patient care with long-term sustainability in the medical field in Japan.
The Chichibu Medical Area spans approximately one-quarter of Saitama Prefecture, situated in the mountainous region of western Saitama. This area is characterized by its sparse population and limited medical resources, with a designation as the only 'underpopulated secondary medical area' in the prefecture. Due to the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, especially during nighttime hours, maintaining a robust emergency medical system has become increasingly challenging. Currently, only two hospitals are on duty at night, making it necessary for patients to travel long distances for urgent care, which raises major accessibility issues.
Recognizing these challenges, the Chichibu Medical Council has taken a proactive stance by opting to integrate an online healthcare solution, working alongside FastDoctor, which has a proven track record in enhancing local medical systems through telemedicine. This system will serve as a complementary service to traditional healthcare, particularly to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and lighten the burden on on-call hospitals.
FastDoctor will establish a dedicated online consultation service specifically for residents of the five municipalities within the region. This will allow individuals suffering from non-critical conditions to access medical care from the comfort of their own homes, every night, all year round. Upon accessing the service through the respective municipal websites, residents can register their insurance information and receive a telemedicine consultation from associated healthcare facilities in an estimated time frame of 15 minutes, extending to 30 minutes during busy periods like the New Year.
Following the consultation, prescriptions can be picked up at a nearby pharmacy or delivered to the patient's home the next day. In cases where immediate tests or face-to-face consultations are deemed necessary, the local coordination team will ensure timely transfers to emergency hospitals in the region.
The service will cater to adults and children alike, providing internal medicine and pediatric consultations. This clear division of care roles will ensure that minor ailments are treated through online channels while more serious cases receive immediate attention at local emergency facilities. The aim is to create an equitable healthcare framework, granting all residents fair access to medical services while maximizing the effective use of medical resources, ultimately leading to a sustainable medical environment for the entire community.
The operational hours for this telemedicine service will be from 7 PM to 8 AM, every day of the year. Residents are encouraged to access the dedicated online portal via their municipality's website. The system will operate under health insurance provisions, with an additional service fee of 330 yen applicable.
The 'Municipality Online Medical Service' is designed to support local healthcare systems, especially during high-demand periods such as evenings, weekends, and public holidays. With a robust plan in place, local stakeholders will collaboratively outline specific roles and adapt to the regional context. This implementation marks the twelfth deployment across Japan and the first of its kind to operate within a medical area framework.
FastDoctor, founded in 2016, operates the largest medical support platform in Japan, connecting roughly 5,000 physicians with various medical resources. Committed to addressing local healthcare concerns and societal needs, the platform not only enhances medical access for citizens and businesses but also strengthens regional healthcare systems. FastDoctor seeks to become the go-to healthcare partner for one hundred million individuals, advocating for the alleviation of anxiety for patients while supporting the well-being of healthcare providers.
For press inquiries, please contact Megumi Tajima from FastDoctor's public relations team at [email protected] or call 090-7843-9782.
With this innovative online healthcare initiative, the Chichibu region is set to pave the way for a new model of healthcare that balances immediate patient care with long-term sustainability in the medical field in Japan.
Topics Health）
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