TITLE:
Capacity Limitations of Medical Services Provided by Pediatricians in Japan
AUTHORS:
Jun Kohyama
KEYWORDS:
Pediatric Hospitalist; Night-Duty; Social Needs; Non-Pediatric Physician; Parents
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.4 No.1,
March
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: The shortage of
pediatricians has been identified as one of the largest social problems in
Japan. This study aimed to compare the assumed ideal nighttime working
conditions of pediatric hospitalists in Japan with the actual current
situation. By using available data on the age-related numbers of pediatricians
in Japan, we described the ideal working conditions for pediatric hospitalists
in Japan. The ideal situation was then compared with the existing actual
working conditions. Compared with
the assumed ideal condition, current pediatric hospitalists are working in many
hospitals with a few colleagues. To
solve the current supply-demand mismatch on medical care for children during
night, an involvement of non-pediatric physicians in the medical care of
children during the night is indispensable. Also, parents in Japan need to know
the limitations relating to the available capacity of pediatricians, and accept
that their children can be cared for adequately by non-pediatric physicians,
who have been trained to provide primary medical care to children.