Clinical Exchange in Japan

Prior to our elective in Nagoya University Hospital, the administrative staff were very prompt and helpful in planning our schedules.

We had applied for 2 weeks to the orthopaedic surgery. The timetable was nicely planned with a good mix of time in the clinic to see cases as well as time in the operation theatre to look at how the skilled doctors perform their surgeries. The doctors were very welcoming and had tried their best to educate us in English. They made the effort to translate the clinic session visits with the patients and teach us the techniques used during their surgeries.

Interestingly, the emergency department is closely linked to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) in Nagoya University Hospital. Doctors are to round both the emergency department patients as well as the ICU patients. Hence, students can get exposed to both fields. However, the emergency department is quite quiet during Spring as the hospital do not get trauma patients and most patients do not come in during this period due to the good weather. The doctor had shared with us that the department would be more busy during the Winter period when it is flu season and the stress from the change in climate causes chronic patients to have relapses.

We definitely enjoyed our time in Nagoya University Hospital despite the language barrier and would recommend students who would like to have a taste of Japanese Healthcare to come to Nagoya University Hospital.