December 26, 2018
Keio University School of Medicine
A research group led by Senior Lecturer Taishiro Kishimoto of the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, has completed and today released on its website Japan's first manual for conducting safe, high-quality online medical care (remote medical consultations where physicians connect with patients in their homes or other locations via the internet) in the field of psychiatry. This follows extensive discussions with physicians, legal experts, and technical specialists.
Although some forms of online medical care have been covered by public health insurance since April 2018, there has been no manual for physicians on the procedures for starting online medical care or for maintaining the quality of such care. With the creation of Japan's first manual for physicians on online medical care, the expansion of online medical care in the future—not only in psychiatry but also in many other clinical departments—will make it easier for patients who have had difficulty visiting hospitals for various reasons to access medical care.
Please see below for the full press release.