A Glimpse into the Care of Diabetic Patients in Tokyo, Japan through the Educational Hospitalization Program

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a rapidly growing disease within the Japanese population. Thus, there is growing demand for high quality health care with long-term health benefits for diabetic patients. The goal of this paper is to discuss how the Educational Hospitalization Program, a service not practiced in the United States, is used to meet this growing demand for diabetic patients in Japan. The benefits of the Educational Hospitalization Program include close monitoring of patients by caregivers to optimize pharmacological interventions, facilitation of communication among patients and care providers, and providing structured educational environment for the patients. All of these benefits help patients incorporate healthy routines in their lifestyle to manage their health conditions. Incorporation of a similar program in the United States may provide health benefits for the patients and reduce total healthcare cost.