Japan's Response to Multimorbidity

 

Japan's healthcare system, like many others, is currently adapting to an aging population and the related rise in chronic conditions. Our study is part of Japan's ongoing efforts to meet these challenges with innovation and academic inquiry. Along with my colleagues from Keio University School of Medicine, we have introduced a concept that, while rooted in our national healthcare experience, may have significant relevance beyond our borders.

 

The Concept of "Polydoctoring"

 

In clinical practice, "polypharmacy" has become a recognized challenge, referring to patients taking multiple medications for several health issues. In a similar vein, our study introduces "polydoctoring" to describe a situation where patients are seen by numerous healthcare providers. This can lead to fragmentation of care, an issue we believe warrants further examination.

 

Key Insights from Our Study

 

In our research, we developed a new metric Regularly Visiting Facilities (RVF) to measure polydoctoring. We observed that a higher RVF correlates with increased Fragmentation of Care Index (FCI), a higher incidence of polypharmacy, and elevated outpatient medical costs. It is imperative that we explore strategies to enhance care coordination and reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization.

 

Moreover, the impact of polydoctoring on patient health outcomes is an area that requires further elucidation. As we continue our research, we aim to clarify these effects and ultimately inform strategies that can improve the health and wellbeing of patients managing multiple health conditions.

 

A Call for Collaborative Discussion

 

While our study is specific to Japan, the phenomena of polydoctoring and its implications likely have parallels in other healthcare systems. I invite my fellow researchers and healthcare practitioners globally to reflect on these findings and join in a dialogue that seeks to improve the management of multimorbidity for patients everywhere.

 

Looking Ahead

 

This publication is an invitation to my peers worldwide to consider the multifaceted nature of multimorbidity management. By shedding light on "polydoctoring," we hope to pave the way for more integrated and patient-centered care approaches. I look forward to contributing further to the global conversation on enhancing patient care.

 

Reference

Ando, T., Sasaki, T., Abe, Y., Nishimoto, Y., Hirata, T., Haruta, J., & Arai, Y. (2023). Measurement of polydoctoring as a crucial component of fragmentation of care among patients with multimorbidity: Cross‐sectional study in Japan. Journal of General and Family Medicine, 00, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgf2.651

 

Author of this article

Takayuki Ando, M.D., MPH

Assistant Professor, Center for General Medicine Education, Keio University School of Medicine.

 

First published: 17 November 2023

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