Annual Report 2020
Center for Physician Referral and Medical Social Service
Eriko Satomi, Hidehito Horinouchi, Masashi Kato, Satoru Iwasa, Takayuki Wada, Kumie Sakihara, Kayoko Miyata, Rieko Shimizu, Naoko Matsunaga, Miho Koitabashi, Natsuko Moroi, Mariko Shimizu, Mari Arai, Masako Yabumoto, Ryoko Maeda, Daiki Murakami, Tomonori Koma
Introduction
The Center for Physician Referral and Medical Social Service was newly established in September 2017 to manage the Consultation, Counseling and Support Service Center, the Physician Referral Service Office, and the Reservation Center. This section is about the physician referral service. (For information on the Consultation, Counseling and Support Service Center, see the relevant section.) The purpose of the Physician Referral Service Office is to provide appropriate access to the best cancer practice for more patients and their physicians. To help cancer patients with various needs to visit the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH), this office consists of a physician, a nurse, a medical social worker (MSW), and two clerks. It also handles inquiries about patients’ medical records from their physicians. Another important activity is to record and analyze the information concerning patients’ referrals to the NCCH.
The Team and What We Do
1. Physician referral service
In close collaboration with the Reservation Center, the Physician Referral Service Office helps patients and their physicians promptly select the most appropriate doctor.
2. Inquiries about patients’ medical records
We receive and handle inquiries about medical records from physicians who see patients of our hospital.
3. Relationships with affiliated hospitals and clinics
We send reminders to patients’ physicians when the patients are due for their first visit to our hospital. To maintain relationships with affiliated hospitals and clinics, we hold regular meetings and invite physicians from them to attend. Because of COVID-19 pandemic, we held an online meeting on end-of-life cancer patients with local practitioners, doctors, and nurses of palliative care units instead of in-person meeting, and biweekly webinar by NCCH specialists as lecturers.
4. Recording and analyzing clinical information
The information on all the patients and their physicians is appropriately recorded to be analyzed for applying it to the next strategies for providing better services.
5. Cooperation with intramural departments and staff
We strive to provide the best practice in cooperation with intramural departments, sections, and staff.
Future Prospects
The Physician Referral Service Office will continuously support patients, physicians and other medical staff to provide ever better cancer treatment and care.