Expansion and Relocation of Keio University Hospital Center for Preventive Medicine to the District A Tower of the Toranomon-Azabudai Project by Mori Building Co., Ltd.

2022/10/24

Image: Toranomon-Azabudai Project (The center is the District A Tower, where the Center for Preventive Medicine will be located) ⓒ DBOX for Mori Building Co.

In the fall of 2023, the Keio University Center for Preventive Medicine will expand and relocate to the District A Tower (5th and 6th floors) within the Toranomon-Azabudai District Category 1 Urban Redevelopment Project (Toranomon-Azabudai Project) managed by Mori Building Co., Ltd. This expansion and relocation is a major project for Keio University Hospital, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, as it looks toward the next 100 years. Under the slogan "Medicine that walks together with each individual's life," the entire Keio University Hospital will work together with the concepts of "playing a role in extending healthy life expectancy," "developing and practicing highly personalized health management programs," and "creating new value in preventive medicine."

The Center for Preventive Medicine was established in August 2012 on the 3rd floor of the South Wing of Building 3 at Keio University Hospital. Thanks to the high evaluation of our reliable diagnostic capabilities based on Keio University Hospital standards and our meticulous patient care, the number of patients has increased year by year. With a repeat rate exceeding 80%, reservations are currently backlogged by several months. Furthermore, as we reached our 10th anniversary, challenges had emerged such as upgrading to cutting-edge medical equipment, developing the latest preventive medical examination menus using that equipment, and promoting preventive medicine research.

Meanwhile, Mori Building was looking for a core medical institution for the "Toranomon-Azabudai Project," which has "Green & Wellness" as its main concept, aiming to create a city where people of all generations can continue to live vibrantly in both mind and body.

The interests of both parties aligned, and in March 2021, a basic agreement was signed regarding the expansion and relocation of the Center for Preventive Medicine to the "Toranomon-Azabudai Project" and the opening of the "Hills Joint Research Laboratory for Future Preventive Medicine and Wellness."

By relocating the Center for Preventive Medicine to the "Toranomon-Azabudai Project" and effectively utilizing the expanded floor space, it will be possible to accommodate the increasing number of patients and provide an examination environment that considers privacy. In addition, we aim for early detection of diseases by improving examination accuracy through the introduction of the latest equipment and image processing systems. Furthermore, based on Narrative-Based Medicine, which values dialogue with patients, we plan to develop preventive medicine that is optimally individualized according to patient needs.

In preventive medicine research, by establishing the "Hills Joint Research Laboratory for Future Preventive Medicine and Wellness" in collaboration with Mori Building Co., Ltd., we expect further interdisciplinary development of preventive medicine. This will be achieved by understanding the health issues at various life stages of people working in the Toranomon-Azabudai Project and working to return research results related to wellness and well-being to society.

In Japan, which is in the midst of a super-aging society where the proportion of elderly people aged 65 and over accounts for approximately 30% of the total population, "extending healthy life expectancy" is a major social issue. "Healthy life expectancy" is the "average period during which there are no restrictions on daily life." According to 2019 data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, it is approximately 73 years for Japanese men and 75 years for Japanese women. On the other hand, the average life expectancy for Japanese people is approximately 81 years for men and 87 years for women. The difference (8 years for men and 12 years for women) is generally regarded as a social problem as a "state requiring medical or long-term care."

In 2020, the leading causes of death for Japanese people were "malignant neoplasms (tumors)," "heart disease (excluding hypertensive)," "senility," and "cerebrovascular disease." To extend healthy life expectancy, prevention and early detection of lifestyle-related and chronic diseases, as well as measures against frailty in old age, are essential. We believe that preventive medical sciences and preventive medicine are among the most important fields in 21st-century medicine.

Since the establishment of the School of Medicine and Keio University Hospital about 100 years ago, Keio University has regarded preventive medicine as the origin of Keio medical sciences, advocating its necessity and accumulating clinical experience and research. As expectations for "extending healthy life expectancy" in a super-aging society continue to rise, Keio University aims to create a rich society where all people can lead healthy lives throughout their lives, providing not only cutting-edge treatment but also cutting-edge preventive medicine. In addition to providing the know-how cultivated at the university hospital, examinations using cutting-edge equipment and technology, and high-precision evidence-based diagnosis, we aim to help patients understand their own risks and improve their own lifestyles through repeated dialogue with doctors and medical staff. Furthermore, in the unlikely event that an abnormality is found during an examination and specialized treatment is required, we can coordinate quickly with the specialized outpatient clinics of Keio University Hospital, allowing for prompt treatment.

We want to develop the Center for Preventive Medicine into a department full of the elegance characteristic of Keio University, while taking advantage of the wonderful environment overlooking the lush greenery of the Toranomon-Azabudai Project. We look forward to your continued support for the new Keio University Center for Preventive Medicine.