[Present condition of home care treatment at Shinshiro Municipal Hospital].

Shinshiro Municipal Hospital is situated in a mountainous region of Oku-Mikawa area at the East side of Aichi prefecture. Because of this geographical location, there are relatively higher numbers of elderly patients living alone in comparison to other regions of Japan. Our hospital consists of a general ward (255 beds), recuperation area combined with a medical care ward (46 beds), and a visiting nurse care unit. We have intended to strengthen a team medical care system for patients from time of admission to after discharge treatment by use of our unique hospital arrangement under the detailed coordination of associates from the different wards. However, many of the elderly patients living alone will not choose a home care treatment due to constricted circumstances. Therefore, we established a 24-hour care system in order to actively promote a visiting nurse care for patients at home. Regardless of our efforts in helping patients, it is still hard to deal with problems of elderly patients living alone. We assume that the problems associated with elderly patients living alone could be improved by enhancing each care unit's coordination. In any event, we have been trying to solve problems associated with patients since the visiting nurse care unit was started in April 2003. Our intention is to offer a home medical care in which patients can be treated with safety as well as at ease.