Human resource development and medical innovation based on multilateral collaboration through practical project education
Human resource development and medical innovation based on multilateral collaboration through practical project education
*This initiative was carried out with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology from 2008 to 2010, and has continued since 2011 as an initiative of our university and Kitasato University.
Program Overview
Kitasato University and Aoyama Gakuin University University worked together on the theme of "Human resource development and medical innovation based on multilateral collaboration through practical project education." The background to this is that in today's Japanese society, there are a number of issues related to the medical system, such as problems with the medical economy amid a declining birthrate and aging population, problems with the social security system surrounding medical services, the bankruptcy of medical institutions, problems with the supply and demand of medical institutions and medical professionals, and delays in the development and introduction of new drugs in Japan (the so-called drug lag). In addition, there is a growing demand for the quality of medical care, including patient satisfaction, in the medical field. Despite these increasing needs related to medical care in society, in Japan, perhaps because the medical field has been very independent and closed, there have been few active attempts to solve these problems through collaboration with other fields.
This new initiative, in which Kitasato University, which encompasses a variety of fields related to life sciences, and Aoyama Gakuin University which encompasses the fields of humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, and information science, will work closely together in both education and research, aims to present solutions to various social problems related to medical care, in other words, healthcare solutions, and to provide the right human resources in these fields through education.
Representative: Professor Hiromasa Inatsumi School of Social Informatics
Program implementation report
Regarding the study of the initiative at both Aoyama Gakuin University and Kitasato University, the executives of both universities held "management meetings" on Friday, October 6, 2009, Monday, March 8, 2010, and Tuesday, December 7, 2010 to discuss the matter. In addition, the two universities jointly held the following events to publicize the initiative: "Considering the Future of Medical Care and Society" (Saturday, January 24, 2009 and Monday, January 26 to Friday, January 30, 2009: Total of about 450 participants), "Hospital Language" (Friday, January 22, 29, and Saturday, January 30, 2010: Total of about 80 participants), "Foreign Nurses, Future Prospects" (Saturday, September 26, 2010: Approximately 140 participants), and "Clinical Research and Medical Ethics" (Wednesday, December 22, 2010: Approximately 80 participants).
Regarding research projects shared by both schools, (1) a database is currently being created as part of an effort to develop a healthcare information search system in cooperation with civic groups in Zushi City, (2) as part of an effort to expand regional medical care and hospital-clinic collaboration, a joint effort with Sagamihara City is currently being undertaken to address the issue of facilities for severely physically and mentally disabled children, with plans to continue to aim to resolve various issues in the future, (3) as part of an effort to propose improvements to hospital management operations using a risk model for non-payment of hospital fees, it has been decided that this issue will be raised in some way in the future, and (4) regular meetings have been held locally as part of an effort regarding healthcare in an aging society based on the results of a survey on the needs of citizens in Zushi City.
In the 2010 academic year, content related to this initiative was included in the courses offered at our university, including: (1) mathematical analysis of medical and hospital management data in a seminar in School of Social Informatics, (2) a series of special lectures on healthcare solutions research in the same school, and (3) an attempt to address communication issues in the medical field in a seminar in the School of School of International Politics, Economics and Communication Communication.
Program Outcomes
It has already been decided in the curriculum that the educational content realized through this initiative will be incorporated into the educational content of several faculties and graduate schools of our university from 2011 onwards, specifically (1) mathematical analysis using medical and hospital management data will be carried out as a seminar assignment in School of Social Informatics, (2) the content of the Healthcare Solutions Lecture will be incorporated as a special lecture in School of Social Informatics, and (3) communication issues in the medical field will be incorporated as a seminar assignment in Department of International Communication School of International Politics, Economics and Communication. Teaching materials and content for these are expected to be developed in the future by faculty members of our university and Kitasato University, and this is truly a state in which "routine education" can be realized.
In addition, regarding the joint research project between both universities described in the program implementation report, it is expected that a research and investigation system will continue to be implemented between researchers from our university and Kitasato University, making it possible to realize "routine research work."
The continuation of these routine educational and research efforts was also discussed at a management meeting held on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 by the executive members of both schools. The purpose of this collaboration was reaffirmed as being to develop human resources through education that makes use of the unique characteristics of both universities, and guidelines for implementing this were set out.