2021 Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 296-305
Objectives: We analyzed hospitalization trends of medical services by secondary medical area in Shizuoka Prefecture to clarify the role and issues of the medical care system and the cooperation status of medical supply and demand in each area.
Methods: Population, geography, and inpatient background in Shizuoka Prefecture as a whole and in each secondary medical area were examined using the Shizuoka Prefecture Statistical Yearbook and Patient Survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. We calculated four indicators (within-area completion rate, within-area patient rate, dependence entropy, and medical treatment area entropy) and analyzed hospitalization trends. Secondary medical areas were classified according to the characteristics of inpatient medical services by using principal component analysis and inputting data on the four indicators. We examined trends in inpatient inflows and outflows according to classification of injuries and illnesses based on the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).
Results: Of the secondary medical areas, Suntoutagata, Shizuoka, and Seibu served as central medical areas in Shizuoka Prefecture. Suntoutagata had a wide medical service area for neoplasms and the eastern part of the prefecture played a major role in emergency medical care. In Seibu, disparity within the area in terms of medical services for cerebrovascular diseases was found to be an issue. In Kamo, the only depopulated medical area in the prefecture, strengthening of the medical system was recognized, but its limited dependence on Suntotagata's emergency care was clarified. In Atamiito, inflows and outflows of inpatients were large, revealing a characteristic of its medical cooperation with multiple areas. In Shidahaibara, there were outflows of inpatients to multiple areas and medical dependence was decentralized.
Conclusion: We clarified the role and issues of inpatient medical services and the cooperation status of medical supply and demand by secondary medical area in Shizuoka Prefecture. Further analysis of these findings will contribute to realizing a high-quality medical system in each area.
