#Japan #healthcare #Tokyo #Mediphone #OPERe

OPERe and MediPhone: A Partnership for Better Foreign Patient Care

In a significant move to improve communication in healthcare settings, OPERe and MediPhone have announced a partnership aimed at addressing the challenges faced by medical professionals when dealing with foreign patients. MediPhone, based in Minato, Tokyo, specializes in providing telemedical interpretation services, helping facilitate smoother communication between patients and healthcare providers. OPERe, also based in Tokyo, offers the innovative digital communication tool "Pokesapo," designed to enhance interactions between patients and medical staff.

Background of the Collaboration

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of foreign patients visiting or residing in Japan. This surge has led to higher demands on local healthcare facilities to accommodate non-Japanese speaking patients. Unfortunately, many healthcare workers encounter difficulties not only due to language barriers but also because of cultural differences and varying medical standards. Such challenges can exacerbate the workload of medical professionals and may deter foreign patients from seeking the medical assistance they need, often due to feelings of uncertainty or misunderstanding.

Purpose of the Partnership

The new collaboration between OPERe and MediPhone aims to utilize both the medical interpretation service provided by MediPhone and OPERe's "Pokesapo" tool to resolve these pressing issues. By combining their strengths, the partnership seeks to create an environment that fosters better communication and streamlined exchanges between healthcare providers and foreign patients.

This alliance intends to ease the burden of multilingual services in medical settings, ensuring that foreign patients can access medical care in Japan with greater ease and confidence. Ultimately, it aims to contribute to the transformation of working conditions for medical professionals and enhance the overall quality of patient care.

Remarks from Executives

Mayumi Sawada, CEO of MediPhone

"The moment I met Yuka Sawada, CEO of OPERe, we instantly clicked, partly due to our shared surname. I have always felt that collaborating with her would be beneficial. I’m thrilled we could make this partnership happen. Through the services of OPERe and MediPhone, we aim to address the numerous multilingual challenges faced in the medical field effectively. I look forward to fruitful guidance and collaboration moving forward."

Yuka Sawada, CEO of OPERe

"Given the increasing number of foreign visitors and residents in Japan, we’ve seen more medical professionals expressing concerns regarding multilingual communication. Primarily, the most troubling issues arise from misinterpretations related to healthcare systems and hospital admissions. By utilizing our 'Pokesapo' platform for standardized medical explanations and complementing it with MediPhone's remote interpretation and AI translation services, we envision a solution that promotes smooth and high-quality communication between healthcare providers and foreign patients. I extend my sincere gratitude to Mayumi Sawada and everyone at MediPhone for their incredible speed in realizing this collaboration. Through our partnership, we aim to alleviate multilingual communication burdens in healthcare environments and enhance the support system for foreign patients."

Services and Companies Involved

About "Pokesapo"

Pokesapo is a digital tool that connects patients with healthcare providers via LINE, automating communication. With just one QR code scan, patients receive automated explanations about hospital admission, surgical procedures, and post-discharge care directly on their smartphones. The platform also supports pre-visit assessments like anamnesis and questionnaires, utilizing engaging video content and illustrations to improve understanding and reduce anxiety.

Currently, Pokesapo is implemented in over 80 medical institutions across Japan, predominantly in acute care hospitals, by 2025.

Company Overview of OPERe

• - Name: OPERe Co., Ltd.
• - Location: 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
• - CEO: Yuka Sawada
• - Established: June 2020
• - Business Scope: Development and provision of digital communication tools for patients and healthcare providers
• - Website: OPERe

About MediPhone

MediPhone specializes in remote medical interpretation services and offers training seminars for healthcare practitioners dealing with foreign patients. The company also supports the establishment of comprehensive systems for foreign patient acceptance in medical institutions.

• - Phone and Video Interpretation Services: Through the MediPhone platform, they ensure effective communication between healthcare providers and foreign patients.
• - Established: June 2018
• - Website: MediPhone