Amid concerns about the strain on medical institutions due to the spread of the new coronavirus, Kawasaki City clinics have started to treat patients with the new coronavirus, who have a low risk of becoming severe, as a general rule, online from the 20th.
The "Tama Family Clinic" in Kawasaki City has been examining and treating patients since the beginning of the spread of the new corona infection, and at its peak, it has treated up to 40 people a day.
Even in this "8th wave", there are many patients one after another, and it is difficult to make an appointment for medical treatment.
At the clinic, in order to give priority to face-to-face treatment for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses who are at high risk of developing severe symptoms, it is possible to conduct tests at home etc. for those with a low risk of developing severe symptoms, such as high school students and those under the age of 65 who do not have chronic illnesses. In principle, those who tested positive for the virus have switched to online medical treatment.
The staff who received the call from the patient will check the age and the presence or absence of chronic diseases, as well as the test results. I was prescribed some antipyretics.
Hiroki Ohashi, director of the Tama Family Clinic, said, ``During the seventh wave of summer, a large number of people rushed to the fever outpatient clinic for examinations, and patients who were likely to become seriously ill were unable to reach medical care, but online medical treatment was introduced. I think that by reducing the burden on medical examinations, we will be able to quickly find patients with a high risk of severe disease. Patients will also benefit greatly from being able to see a doctor at home without waiting."
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare “People with low risk of severe illness should be treated at home”
If the number of fever patients increases rapidly due to the spread of the new coronavirus and simultaneous influenza epidemic, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will make it possible to provide medical care to people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill. We are calling for patients to recuperate at home without visiting a doctor, and if they feel any change in their physical condition, they would like us to consider telephone or online medical treatment.
Those who have a low risk of becoming seriously ill will self-test using a government-approved antigen test kit, and if they test positive, they will register with the local government's "Health Follow-up Center" and recuperate at home, but their physical condition changes. If you feel this, consider calling or online, and if you feel that your symptoms are severe, we encourage you to visit a fever outpatient clinic or your family doctor.
Medical institutions that provide online medical care are listed on the websites of prefectures and local governments.
On the other hand, the elderly aged 65 and over, those with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women, and children under elementary school age are at high risk of becoming seriously ill. We urge you to visit the center as soon as possible.
Therefore, you will be tested for the new coronavirus and influenza, and if either virus is positive, you will be treated at the hospital or at home.
The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases recommends face-to-face consultations when treating patients under home care online, as less information can be obtained compared to face-to-face consultations. I'm here.
A system that can treat 900,000 people a day in preparation for a simultaneous influenza epidemic
In preparation for the simultaneous epidemic of the new coronavirus and influenza, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has established a system that can treat up to 900,000 patients a day, and 23,000 of these patients will be contacted by phone or phone. I'm going to respond to online medical treatment.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, at the peak of the simultaneous epidemic, 810,000 patients are estimated by prefectures, and as of last month, a system was in place that could treat up to 900,000 patients per day.
Of these, it is said that 870,000 people will be treated by fever outpatient clinics for people at high risk of severe illness, and 23,000 people will be treated by telephone and online medical treatment.
As of the 14th of this month, 41,850 medical institutions have set up fever outpatient clinics nationwide.
In addition, with regard to the "Health Follow-up Center" of each local government, which registers people with a low risk of severe illness who are positive for the new corona in self-tests, it is said that a system has been established that can register up to 200,000 people per day. is.