Abstract
The population of Japan is rapidly aging, and in order to keep pace with the health care demands related to this demographic shift, reform of the health care system is essential. Home medical care was formally recognized in the 1980s. Medical care administered in the home is fundamentally different from medical treatment performed in a hospital setting. The latter is aimed at lifesaving, while the former is focused on improvement of quality of life.
When terminal patients live out their remaining days at home, 24-hour medical assistance is essential. In this setting cooperation with nurses is required, and the home care physician must be knowledgeable about palliative care and risk management in home medical care. In addition, the physician needs to be more familiar with the patients' lifestyle than a clinic-based doctor. This article was created to clearly explain the essentials of home medical care.
