2013 Volume 61 Issue 6 Pages 397-403
We founded the Intractable Disease Care Center in Shinshu University Hospital in June 2009. By the end of May 2013, we had conducted 304 house-call medical visits responding to the requests of 108 patients with intractable neurological diseases. We have counseled them on their problems and provided medical information to primary care doctors and supporters such as home-care nurses, public health nurses or care managers. We also have arranged hospitalization for respite care. This multidisciplinary medical care has helped patients and their families to understand the disease, resulting in a reduction of anxiety and promoting cooperation among supporters. In arranging for the respite care, it is important to facilitate cooperation between hospitals and public administration based on the status of home care in the local region. To further facilitate the home care, we need to develop a new system to share continually the patientʼs information among medical institutions and supporters, using information and communication technology.
