Second Opinion Online for Corresponding Patients at Corona 5:57 August 15

The National Center for Child Health and Development can receive a second opinion online because the number of patients who wish to seek an opinion other than the attending physician declines as the number of patients refraining from visiting medical institutions due to the effect of the new coronavirus decreases. I started the system.

The number of second opinion decreased at the National Center for Child Health and Development in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo due to the spread of new coronavirus infection, which was 62 cases in 5 months from March to last month, the same period of the previous year. Only about half of (114).

The center started a system where patients and their families may be confused about their choice of treatment or the treatment itself may be delayed, so that patients can receive a second opinion online.

First, the patient makes a reservation by phone and uses the dedicated app to enter the required data.

After that, you can talk directly to the doctor through a smartphone or tablet device and ask for opinions such as treatment methods.

So far, this hospital has accepted 6 second opinion cases including children with cancer in the Tohoku region.

Koichi Matsumoto, director of the Children's Cancer Center, said, “I hear that some patients are being delayed in treatment due to the effects of corona. Since the burden of traveling long distances can be eliminated online, it is easier than ever to take a second opinion. I want to be able to receive it."

Most of the consultations are for patients with childhood cancer and their families.

At the National Center for Child Health and Development, there are many patients and families who want a second opinion due to childhood cancer, pediatric liver transplant, and allergies.

Last year, we received 243 second opinion cases annually, and the most common of these was 97 cases, which were consultations for childhood cancer.

This means that 27 cases (40% or more) out of 62 cases received in the 5 months from March to last month were consultations from patients with childhood cancer and their families.

Family of patients "Ensure treatment options"

Representative Yuko Magami of the "Children's Brain Tumor Association", which is made up of patients with childhood cancer and their families, said, "There are few specialists for diseases with a small number of patients such as childhood cancer, so seek a second opinion to hear the best treatment method. There are many cases where I go to a medical institution far away, but I think some parents hesitate when considering the risk of infection in their children."

In addition, “Online consultation is reassuring for the patient's family, which is a great help. I hope this kind of effort will be expanded so that treatment options will not be narrowed even in the case of coronary bruise.”