There is no doubt that science technology has dramatically been progressing in the medical field of the 21st century. We need to be actively involved in the progress.
In addition, we have to remember that the progress is a social phenomenon as well as a medical phenomenon.
There are two factors in the limits of medicine. One is death which is a fundamental limit. The other is a situation that medical care is subject to the value system of the society. With an increasingly diversified value system of the society, we think that medical care and public welfare of the 21st century should be established by the whole local community. The medical care system in this situation is comprehensive care from health promotion to prevention, diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation, what is called, Primary Health Care (holistic medicine, comprehensive medicine). Since the PHC is based on good persons and a good local society, Higashi Sapporo Hospital intends to participate in the local community in the network of PHC, making use of our characteristics.
Higashi Sapporo Hospital is managed under this medical mission. Palliative care is based on “Team approach”.
Experts in various fields provide medical services to patients by having communication with them and their families under the concept of how to live out the rest of a patients’ life. That’s exactly the essence of primary health care. “Team approach” is a model of the structure of medical care in the local community.
Community (collaborative society) is a group of people working on a central matter together. Doctors should devote themselves to their studies with science technology called medicine, nurses should assist the maturity of humanity including themselves from the standpoint of integrated anthropology called nursing, and other staff members engaged in hospital service should also work on services with a desire to improve themselves as professionals. Moreover, it is very important for not only patients and their families with individual social backgrounds but also volunteers to have recognition of participation in the community. Let us respect each other and create “happiness for people” and healthiness on an equal footing.
(written by Kunihiko Ishitani on April 15, 1983)