#Japan #Tokyo #Dr.JOY #Smart Visit #Hospital Services

Enhancing Hospital Visiting Experiences: A Leap Forward with 'Smart Visit'

On February 11, which marks the World Day of the Sick, Dr. JOY Inc., headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, proudly announces that its innovative 'Smart Visit' service has been implemented in 17 facilities, just four months after its launch in September last year. This progressive initiative aims to provide families and patients with a safer and more pleasant visiting environment, a time that holds significant importance as it strengthens the bonds between them.

A Quick Rise in Adoption

Since introducing 'Smart Visit,' the service has rapidly gained traction, successfully being adopted in a variety of healthcare facilities. As of February 9, 2026, the implementation of this service has transcended beyond expectations, highlighting its effectiveness in streamlining visiting procedures. The service consolidates visitor registration, communication, and management within a single package, ensuring that visitors can spend quality time with their loved ones without additional stress.

Facilities utilizing this service have reported noticeable improvements, not only in reducing the workload on their front desks but also in enhancing communication among medical staff. This innovative solution fosters a more standardized approach, promoting reliability and safety for patient visits.

Voices from the Facilities

Don’t just take our word for it! Hear what the staff from the facilities have to say.
A representative from the DX Promotion Department at the Imamaura General Hospital remarked on the pressure of managing visiting hours and emphasized how moving the reception to the first floor and employing non-medical staff for this task has allowed nurses to focus more on patient care.

Nurse Manager’s Testimonial:
"With the new system in place, we can instantly monitor visitation schedules and confirm attendees. We have eradicated the need for staff to scour the ward to check on visitors, enabling us to allocate more time to nursing duties."

Staff Nurse Comment:
"Knowing in advance when family members will visit makes it so much easier to plan care activities like bathing for patients. It also saves us the need for constant calls to confirm visiting times, which can be disruptive."

Visitors themselves have found the service immensely beneficial. Feedback from a visitor in their 70s noted the initial struggle with reservations but praised the overall ease of the process once familiar. A working father in his 40s expressed relief that he could complete the procedures after work, emphasizing the smooth transitions during his visits.

What is 'Smart Visit'?

The 'Smart Visit' system integrates self-registration through in-room tablets along with automated issuance of visitor badges, which clearly states the intended leaving time. This dual approach of streamlining reception tasks while facilitating seamless communication within the facility aids in providing a better visiting experience for families, all without the need for a complex application, just a simple phone number entry.

Future Prospects

Dr. JOY has ambitious plans to further improve this service. Beyond standard visits, the company intends to incorporate features for assisting patients during admission and discharge processes, delivering belongings, and providing updates on patients’ medical conditions. These new enhancements aim to simplify arrival procedures for visitors.

Moreover, they are exploring options to support visitors in making reservations via AI-enabled phone calls, ensuring ease of use for individuals of all ages and varying levels of technological proficiency.

Commitment to Enhancing Healthcare Experiences

Dr. Hiroaki Ishimatsu, President and Physician at Dr. JOY, emphasizes that the essence of this initiative lies in securing visiting time as a vital connection between patients and their families while alleviating operational burdens in medical facilities.

As he reflects on the World Day of the Sick, he reiterates that facilitating visits is equally as important as providing medical care. Dr. JOY is committed to developing systems that ensure every hospital can foster a supportive environment for family visits.

Meet the Team

Mitsuya Mita, Head of Smart Visiting Division, shares that managing visitations involves multiple departments and strict rules, which can often lead to overwhelmed frontline staff. Their approach aims to elevate safety and reduce interruptions in clinical settings. He sees the early adoption as a testament to Dr. JOY's customized solutions that cater to the varying needs of hospitals.

Company Profile

• - Name: Dr. JOY Inc.
• - Location: 2-6-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, Toranomon Hills Station Tower 17F
• - Established: November 2013
• - Business Focus: Software development and operations in the medical field / Providing medical and pharmaceutical information to healthcare institutions
• - Official Website: Dr.JOY