Abstract
This study examines the diabetes management plans of the Toyota region (Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture) and recommends an entire regional medical cooperation plan for continuous care from primary to tertiary preventions. The Toyota Memorial Hospital has a well-established outpatient referral system and a short-term educational hospitalization program and the hospital plays an important role in the initial diabetic education and reviews of diabetes. Various meetings to promote closer regional cooperation are already established and emphasize open discussions among small groups of physicians. The Toyota region medical staff mainly self-manages the society to extend their skills. They also discuss the database for their regional cooperation.
In order to achieve regional cooperation in the whole Toyota region, a Toyota City Coordinating Council for Diabetes Management has been set up in 2005 through participation of not only hospitals and clinics but also local administrative bodies, industrial physicians and health insurance societies. The Council has accomplished the printing of a diabetic educational pamphlet. Moreover, it has analyzed data regarding fundamental health inspections and conducted a survey of diabetic patients. In addition the Council has also established a nutritional support system for lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and dyslipidemia in clinics without dietitian. A short-term educational hospitalization program in cooperation with industrial physicians led to the reduction of HbA1c among employees in this area.
In order to achieve regional diabetic disease management without organizational barriers in the Toyota region, both human resources and information are thought to be public property. In diabetes management, simple cooperative links between hospitals and clinics are insufficient and a more comprehensive management is needed.
