Komae Haku orthopedic (Komae, Tokyo)

“One of the reasons I wanted to become a plastic surgeon was that I wanted to be a doctor who loved sports and was involved in sports.” I had experience with various sports since I was a elementary school student, and in high school I played rugby. I had a lot of injuries. From that experience, I wanted to make sure that no one like that child would ever be left behind. Also, I liked interacting with people and communicating with them, so I wanted to work in a field that involved interacting with people. There was also the opinion of my parents that I should get a job that required some hands-on work.

In June 2015, Mr. Hibi Katsura opened "Komae Hak Orthopedic Surgery" in Komae City, Tokyo. According to him, he had been thinking about becoming a orthopedic surgeon since his high school days when he was active in rugby. Now that he has become a doctor, I asked him about how his experience in sports has been useful.

“Rugby played by 15 people can turn into a completely different sport depending on the positions. For example, there are various types of personalities such as the sprint type who run by turning the ball around and the heavyweight type who form a scrum. By bringing these various personalities together, we can achieve our goals. I think there is a similarity with medicine in that ”One for all, all for one” means that everyone works for the sake of one person and focuses on providing medical care towards a single goal.”

When I first became a doctor, I had no intention of starting my own practice; I had no idea what it would look like. I was simply treating patients with the hope that as many people as possible would be happy. Later, when I considered what was needed in the Komae area, I realized that a doctor who connected patients with university hospital staff was needed.

Near Komae Kuko Orthopedic Surgery Clinic is the Third Hospital of Tokyo Kosei University School of Medicine, where the doctor himself also worked.

“There were not many GPs in this area, and even patients with bruises and back pain were going to university hospitals for treatment. I opened a clinic that would cater to these patients, referred patients who needed surgery to university hospitals, and thought that patients who needed rehabilitation should be treated at the clinic. As a final goal, I aimed to build a relationship between the patients, the staff doctors, and the GPs—the Triple Win—and make everyone happy. Instead of opening a clinic, I opened here in this place with the vision that it makes sense to open a clinic in this very location, so that everyone can be happy.”

In the future, I hope to see university hospitals become a model for satellite clinics that provide specialized surgeries not just in orthopedic surgery but also in other specialties. What is needed is communication skills. I work closely with the department heads and staff of the university hospitals to share patient information. If something happens, we need to exchange information and explain it to the patients. Following up on patients is the most important part. I am scheduled to have surgery at the university hospital once a week, and I sometimes attend the surgeries of patients referred to me. After completing rehabilitation at the university hospital, if necessary, I may also undergo rehabilitation at the clinic.

Dr. Haki says that the clinic’s specialist doctors provide examinations and care, and if necessary, refer patients to a university hospital. He says that he thinks it would be best to have this as the point of contact for treatment. He feels that it is becoming more widely accepted in the community.

Regarding the medical care, we try to ensure that the doctors can focus on their work in an environment where they can do so. Specifically, we set time limits: new patients must have their tests and orders completed within 30 minutes, their consultations and treatments completed within an hour, and rehabilitation completed within one and a half hours. We set 30-minute goals to ensure that everything is completed within the time limit.

“The patient comes first. This is the fundamental principle that we always keep in mind. To achieve this, it is important to think about things from the perspective of the other person. If you were the patient, how would you feel about this kind of treatment? I think that’s what matters when dealing with other people.”

Dr. Hachiya, who received training from an older colleague during his internship, said that he was taught that “patients should be treated as their own parents and operated on as their own grandmother, and that this will naturally happen.” He said that if you always keep that in mind, it will be easier to understand. He also asked about the training provided to staff members to achieve the “patient first” principle.

"I think it would be difficult if I, the director, were the one to take the initiative. I think that if the director keeps an eye on how I interact with patients and the way I handle them, the staff will see that too. I think they will know the criteria for determining what is right and what is wrong. Fortunately, I also often hear good things about the staff. That's good news, isn't it?"

“The hospital uses a lot of wood, creating a calm, café-like atmosphere that makes people feel the warmth of the wood. The sofa in the waiting room where patients sit is made of comfortable materials, and the chairs are high enough to be comfortable for people with bad knees or backs. Regarding the flow of traffic, I designed the layout myself 40 to 50 times. The rehabilitation room and waiting room are places where patients spend a long time, so we made them as spacious as possible, and the clinic and reception area are kept to the minimum necessary.”

The doctors' philosophy of "the patient first" permeates the entire hospital. The spacious waiting room reportedly has been expanded to accommodate more patients.

“For the patients, Western medicine and Oriental medicine are irrelevant. I also learned about Chinese medicine because I wanted something that would be even a little bit beneficial to the patients in terms of their treatment. I prescribe the right Chinese medicine after hearing all the symptoms of the patients. It is important not to just prescribe medicine; it is also important to listen to the patients. I think it is important to have a patient who will get better after surgery undergo surgery at a university hospital, while those who do not need surgery can use Oriental medicine with Chinese herbs, and sometimes use all of these methods, including surgery, rehabilitation, Chinese herbs, and medication, to provide a tailor-made medical treatment that is appropriate for the patient.”

Our electrostimulation therapy device is considered from a Western and Eastern medical perspective as a standard for treating pain. I asked the doctor about the treatment he believes is appropriate and our device.

"SSP, needle-free acupuncture treatment is effective for pinpoint pain relief in people who are not comfortable with acupuncture. I also think it's good that the sales staff not only just sell the product but also come to help with after-sales support when needed. Of course, the effectiveness of the product is also important, but I recommend SSGP to people who value the connection between people." "There are many different types of instruments for practitioners, but Japan Medics offers reliable after-sales support, so I recommend it to other practitioners."

We received very encouraging and grateful words from you.

"It has been a little over a year since I opened my practice, but I am always learning and participating in seminars to see if there is anything more I can do in terms of treatment. I hope that in the future I will be able to say that I am happy with my decision to open my practice. I think that the answer will come from the patients themselves."

Komae City is located in the eastern part of the Tama region in Tokyo. The Tama River, which flows through the city to the south, offers a variety of natural beauty throughout the four seasons, and many wild plants and birds can also be seen. At Tomboikei Park, also known as Horigahara Park, which was created by citizens and civic groups, you can see the sight of dragonflies emerging from the pond in the park and flying around as dragonflies in autumn. This has become a place of relaxation for the citizens. In addition, there is a “Compassion Bench” donated by Mr. Shirai on the occasion of the first anniversary of his opening.