2020 Volume 39 Issue 4 Pages 179-188
Severe damage is predicted to occur in the near future due to an inevitable Nankai Trough earthquake. The Nankai Trough earthquake will occur with 80％ probability within 30 years. Medical institutions will likely be seriously damaged by this earthquake. We developed a damage prediction and rescue plans to dispatch the Disaster Medical Assistant Team (DMAT)1,2). Patients in hospital and clinic care need special consideration for transportation and evacuation, especially those with limited mobility. However, to date no analysis has been performed examining evacuation and transportation of patients in care facilities. It have become clear that care facilities account for about 20% of the number of beds in medical institutions that are expected to be damaged. It has been found that the ratio of damaged beds estimated to exceed 40％ in eight prefectures, and in these prefectures, it is necessary to transport patients from affected areas across long distances. Care facility planning is progressing through the medical reform policy set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, but it is necessary to track of care facilities and plan evacuation measures.
