Cheating Death: Japan

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Cheating Death: Japan With Mac McCreary B.A. A guide to receiving healthcare in Japan

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Cheating Death: Japan. With Mac McCreary B.A. A guide to receiving healthcare in Japan. Basic Tools Against Death. Always have two things on you! Residence Card ( 在留カード ) Kenko Hokensho (Japanese Health Insurance Card) Given to you by base school - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Cheating Death: Japan

Cheating Death: Japan

With Mac McCreary B.A.

A guide to receiving healthcare in Japan

Basic Tools Against Death

Always have two things on you! Residence Card (在留カード ) Kenko Hokensho (Japanese Health

Insurance Card) Given to you by base school Proves you have National

InsuranceNeed it anytime you visit a doctor

Japanese National Health Insurance

Automatically enrolled in National Health Insurance

Cost split between CO and you Payment to the system automatically

deducted from paycheck Insurance covers 70% of costs; you

must pay remaining 30% Not covered: Dental, preventative

health care

Other Basic Tools

Learn Japanese; will improve every aspect of life

Make good relations with your supervisor or co-workers

Make Japanese Friends

PAs and Senpai

Death’s First Challenge

Some kind of medical condition comes up Mystery Constipation

Don’t know what to do

Decide to go to doctor!

Finding a Doctor

Be independent; Look online! http://www.qq.pref.ibaraki.jp Can find specialists and know English level

Ask a coworker for recommendations

Ask a friend (ALT or Japanese)

Ask a PA

When to Go?

No appointments; first come first serve

Be prepared to wait

May take as long as half a day

Pro-tip: Go before opening

Check opening hours and vacation days before going

Sick Leave

ALTs special in having Sick Days Most JTEs use nenkyu if sick

Wake up feeling horrible and can’t teach: Call your supervisor; “I’m sick and going to

see the doctor” Go to the doctor Keep proof you went to doctor to take sick

leave May need Doctor’s certificate (shindansho)

Sick Leave

Cultural differences: The Gaman Spirit

Sick leave can be a big source of tension

Discuss sick leave with your supervisor now

Make use of daikyu and weekends if possible

Going to the Doctor

What you need: Kenko Hokensho (health card) Japanese ability, a person to help,

dictionary Some money

Registering at the clinic Receive a Patient’s Card (shinsatsuken)

Registration can be done in advance to

make things easier

Going to the Doctor

After registration; describe problem on form Temperature and blood pressure

Wait…wait....wait some more Doctor examines and gives consultation

Be patient with communication Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Return to waiting room Nurse will call, you will receive the bill and

pay

Filling Prescriptions

Small pharmacy next to clinic or hospital dispensary

Give person at front desk both Hokensho and prescription

Receive medication and directions

May have 3 or 4 different medicines Mix of western and eastern medicine Different forms of medicine; pills, powders, pellets

Pay your 30% (a few 1000¥)

Death’s First Challenge

Take medicine, after a few days everything better again

If needed return to clinic; remember to take Hokensho and Patient’s Card

Score: You 1 Death 0

Death’s Second Challenge

Eat a cookie with macadamia nuts… Severe nut allergy!!

Emergency medical care!!

Emergency Care

Hospitals have more rigid hours

Absolutely need medical attention Call your supervisor or friend or co-worker

Call 119 for ambulance (see what they did there…)

“Kyukyusha-onegaishimasu, say your address”

Triage and then to hospital if needed

Score: You 2 Death 0

Death’s Third Challenge

Running down stairs Trip and fall

Broken bone? Other large accident or injury?

What to do with a serious accident or when a more complicated medical procedure is required?

Surgery and Hospitalization

Need another person to sign forms with you Kyoto-sensei or Supervisor

Be prepared to pay a reasonable sum upfront

Save all receipts and forms

JET Accident Insurance

JET Accident Insurance

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance

Covers the additional 30%

Call and inform them you had an accident

Get doctor’s certificate or have him complete forms

“Rescuer coverage; up to three people Hospitalized for 3 days or more

Life Continues

Surgery is successful

Get “Recovery leave” 20 consecutive days from when you start

Return to work; after a month can walk again

Better luck next time Death!

Go celebrate with friends; drink a little too much

Very questionable hookup… Is Death trying to get you again?

Getting Tested

Free anonymous testing at public health centers (hokenjo) Questionable English levels

Abundance of clinics used to foreigners in Tokyo Might not be free (¥ 5000 -¥ 8000) http://www.hivkensa.com/ Japan HIV Center

Rapid test less common than standard test (results after a week

Taigan no Kaji

Get test results; All clean You 4 Death 0

“Problems exist other places but not here…”

Make Japanese significant other

Member of strange cult!!

Deep depression!

Mental Health

Professional not as available

AJET Peer Support Group (PSG) 050 5534 5566

CLAIR JETline 03 5213 1729

Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) 03 5774 0992

PAs trained in counseling as well

Counseling Hotline Hours

Death Fails

Annual Medical Check

Mandatory

Around Summer Vacation

Eyes, Ears, Weight, Height

Urine and Blood Tests

Chest X-ray and stomach poking

Results confidential for the most part

Questions?