Abstract
To make it possible for sick persons to continue to receive home care as long as they wish, it is pointed out, what is needed is to develop a comprehensive care system under which public health, medical care and social welfare form a trinity to grapple with complicated problems confronting home patients and their families. With the number of aged households increasing, there is a growing number of cases where aged persons look after their spouse. This situation gives rise to many troubles. In recent years, the number of inpatients who say they wish to go home earlier and prefer recuperation in their homes has been rising in a steady curve, despite the fact that they need hospital treatment. Physical and psychological burdens shouldered by familiy members supporting the sick person may be heavier than medical service providers surmise.
In the town of Goshiki-machi, a home care supporting system and hot lines were put into operation in May 1995, making the most of the two-way capabilities of the town-wide cable television network. Thus, home patients and their families have been linked to the hospital and public health and welfare center. Visiting nurses and health aides, without a trip to the hospital from the patients' homes, have now been able to consult physicians in charge on the screen as occasion demands. In this paper, we will outline the system, dwell on how it is being operated, and assess the results of the undertaking at a community level, probably first of its kind in the world.
