[Feature: The Future of Preventive Medicine] Kumiko Yazaki: Healthcare That Walks Alongside Each Individual's Life—The Center for Preventive Medicine's Challenge Toward Future-Style Preventive Medicine

2023/11/06

The Center for Preventive Medicine was established in 2012 on the 3rd floor of Building 3 (South Wing). Since its opening, our center has prioritized high-precision testing and healthcare that emphasizes individuality. The Center for Preventive Medicine does not target those with clear diseases requiring treatment, but rather those without diseases to treat, or those in the "me-byo" (pre-symptomatic) stage where subjective symptoms are absent but health is fluctuating. Therefore, the way of thinking and approaching "health" and "prevention" differs for each individual.

Many of those who visit our center live their lives while managing various physical issues, whether large or small. Furthermore, even if one says, "I don't feel well," the state can range from needing hospitalization for daily life disruption to being able to lead a stable life as long as one does not overexert themselves despite some symptoms. Moreover, because these states are constantly fluctuating and changing, anxiety remains if everyone simply undergoes the same test items once a year. We believe it is important to propose a testing menu suited to that individual and have them undergo their own unique testing menu, adding additional tests if necessary.

Generally, the management of Ningen Dock (comprehensive health checkups) requires many people to undergo exams, so unifying the testing menu as much as possible leads to efficient operation and is economically effective. However, at our center, based on the basic concept of "healthcare that walks alongside each individual's life," we do not limit the testing menu; instead, examinees can tailor-make their tests according to their own wishes. For this reason, we call it a "Personalized Dock" rather than a "Ningen Dock."

In the Personalized Dock, we provide three basic courses aimed at early detection of lifestyle-related diseases by comprehensively checking health status (a course with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a course without upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and a course that performs both upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy in one day). After selecting one of the three basic courses, individuals can create their own original testing menu by freely adding from 8 specialized sets (Heart/Vascular Set, Brain Imaging Set, Ladies' Set, etc.) and 19 individual optional tests (PET-CT, Holter ECG, sleep apnea test). (There are some restrictions, such as certain combinations of tests not being possible on the same day.)

The Personalized Dock provided by the Center for Preventive Medicine does more than just perform tests. While rooted in "reliable diagnosis by specialists and technicians belonging to Keio University Hospital," we take a preventive medicine approach centered on dialogue, including "pre-test interviews by nurses," "explanation of results by doctors after the test," and "post-test follow-up by preventive medicine coordinators."

In preventive medicine, it is of course important to find diseases at the earliest possible stage based on accurate diagnostic capabilities, but it is also important to have people improve their lifestyle habits so they do not get sick in the first place. High-precision medical care based on scientific evidence is necessary to find diseases, but dialogue with the examinee is extremely important for improving lifestyle habits. Lifestyles vary from person to person, and ways of thinking about health also differ. Maintaining solid scientific evidence while engaging in repeated dialogue with examinees, respecting each individual's values, and staying close to their anxieties and hopes—that is the form of personalized, future-style preventive medicine we should aim for.

After moving to Azabudai Hills, we maintained these characteristics of the Center for Preventive Medicine while updating almost all medical equipment to the latest models, creating an environment capable of even higher-precision testing. We also designed the space with consideration for the privacy of examinees. For example, we separated the waiting areas for before and after changing into examination clothes, and in the endoscopy recovery room, we made it possible to partition each person with curtains so they can rest without worrying about the gaze of others. Additionally, all colonoscopy preparation rooms have been made private, with dedicated toilets installed in each room.

Whether the reason for visiting is a checkup or treatment, few people feel at ease in a hospital space. This time, by stepping out of the hospital space and establishing ourselves in the "city" of Azabudai Hills, we aimed to create an environment where people can relax as much as possible.

Looking toward the future of preventive medicine, we newly established the "Preventive Medicine Membership" on the occasion of the move to Azabudai Hills. The "Preventive Medicine Membership" is the first attempt by a university hospital at a membership-based medical service, and it is also a challenge toward thorough personalized medicine.

The main features of the "Preventive Medicine Membership" are three points: , , and . In conventional Ningen Docks, the medical institution only provided the test results. Examinees had to understand those results themselves and manage their own health. With self-management, it is difficult to guarantee continuity, and I have the impression that many people feel the hurdle to improving daily life is quite high. Therefore, in the "Preventive Medicine Membership," the primary doctor works together with the member to design their daily life while predicting risks that may occur several years down the line.

The Center for Preventive Medicine will open at Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower starting Monday, November 6, 2023. Moving the "Center for Preventive Medicine" from the main hospital in Shinanomachi to Azabudai Hills was a very big decision for us. This is because it is the first time in the 100-year history of Keio University Hospital that an organization of the main hospital has moved outside the Shinanomachi premises. While there is great anxiety, anxiety is also the seed of hope. Regarding the social issue of "extending healthy life expectancy in a super-aging society," which Japan cannot avoid in the future, we at the Center for Preventive Medicine will strive to promote future-style preventive medicine while keeping in mind "healthcare that walks alongside each individual's life."

【Address】

5F Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, 1-3-1 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041

Keio University Center for Preventive Medicine

【Nearest Stations】

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Kamiyacho Station (11-minute walk)

Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Roppongi-itchome Station (10-minute walk)

Keio University Center for Preventive Medicine (Main)

Reception Hours: Mon–Fri, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays 8:30–17:00

Closed: Sundays, Public Holidays, 1st and 3rd Saturdays, Year-end and New Year holidays (Dec 30–Jan 4)

* Holidays conform to the days designated by Keio University Hospital.

TEL: 03-5843-6085