Clinical Exchange in Japan

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Experience report

Name: Wei-Yu, Su
School: National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Study Period: 2018/10/01 - 2018/10/26
Departments: Emergency medicine/Intensive care unit, General medicine

It’s my pleasure to have this opportunity to stay in Nagoya University Hospital for a month. In this month, not only did I have a rough picture of Japanese medical system, but also experience Japanese culture in daily life.

The first program I went to is Emergency medicine and Intensive care unit. In Nagoya University Hospital ER or ICU, the number of patient number is far less than the number in Taiwan’s hospital. As a result, the patients receive a better care and the doctors have more time to think about the treatment. The doctors told me that they are able to reject patients with minor or non-emergent illness, which is quite impossible in Taiwan. Another fancy thing that attracted me is the helicopter. In National Taiwan University Hospital, we do have a landing park for helicopter, but it was almost never used as our hospital was just next to the government house. It was such an excitement when I saw the patient was transferred by helicopter, which is just like Japan drama, Cold blue.

The next program I went to is General medicine. It was a little different from what I imagined before coming. The patients were full of rare autoimmune diseases like HLH, AOSD, TEN or so on, the doctors explained to me that there is no admission ward for Rheumatology in Nagoya University Hospital. As a result, these patients with autoimmune diseases received treatment in General medicine ward. Another interesting thing is that the Japanese doctor can prescribe Kampo, or Chinese herbs legally; when western medicine and Chinese medicine were separated in Taiwan. So, I have little idea of Kampo in the past, it was so cool that I learned Chinese medicine in Japan!

The most warming thing that I experience in Nagoya University Hospital is that, in the 2 weeks at General Medicine, one doctor was assigned to take me to lunch every day. At the end of the course, I asked the director Dr. Sato of the reason. He answered that when he was studying abroad in USA, he had lunch and dinner by himself every day and feel lonely. As a result, he wants every student or doctor that comes to General medicine don’t need to have lunch by himself. And I did have great moments with doctors, as sharing about Japanese medical issues, or even just travel experience in Japan!

I really had a wonderful time in Nagoya University Hospital, and I am so thankful for all the help offered by faculty of department of International affair and the doctors in Nagoya University Hospital!

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