Posted by Jess
5 December 2010
Today we mark the end of month 4 in Japan! This time is flying by. For our month-anniversary posts, I try to write about life in Japan in general...sort of the every day things or just to give people an idea of what life is like. I thought today I'd write a little about going to the doctor.
We go to an English speaking clinic here in Azabu Juban, just across from the Tokyo Tower, called the Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic. The clinic has 6 doctors or so and we see a British family practice doctor named Dr. Lomax. Dr.Lomax has lived in Japan for 17 years or so and has kids just a bit older than ours (I think his youngest is 5), so again we get to enjoy the fact that our "pediatrician" is also a parent of small kids and can relate. The clinic and this doctor were recommended to us when we got here and he's been great.
Our first visit to Dr. Lomax was for Abby's regular check-up. The clinic process is a little different and we weren't quite sure what we were doing at first. We checked in at the desk (no problem there), filled out the patient registration information and then sat down. There are about 16 numbered rooms down the hallways of the clinic. Suddenly from the loudspeaker we hear "Abigail Woehrle to Room 15 please". So we go to Room 15, open the door and there is Dr. Lomax, who was also the one who called us over the loudspeaker. The doctor did all of Abby's measurements and then talked to us a bit about her history. We discussed immunizations and her ear tubes of course. It was strange not to have a nurse do the medical history or her vitals. When it was time for immunizations, Dr. Lomax put an order in the computer and a few minutes later a nurse came in with the tray. As soon as the band-aid was on, she left again and that was the only time we saw the nurse. It seems a bit opposite of how it is in the U.S., where you mostly see a nurse and then get a little time with the doctor. Dr. Lomax wrote a note in his journal to send us an email in December to remind us of Abby's next check up and then talked to us about flu shots (more on that later).
We left the appointment and took the paperwork back out to the desk. Here's where we had no clue what we were doing! In Japan, everyone is on National Health Insurance and pays a 30% copay on all services. Our clinic is for ex-pats like us and doesn't take the National Health Insurance. However, they don't process any paperwork for your insurance either. So luckily I had printed the form I needed and brought it along. We paid cash for the entire visit costs and then we submit to insurance. I just submitted the forms for all our visits this fall so I certainly hope I filled them out correctly. And I don't really know how much we'll get reimbursed but I hope its a good portion because doctors aren't cheap and nothing in Japan is cheap so the combination is a bit tough to swallow!
We've been back a few times since then. We had a follow-up visit for Abby 1 month later to check her ears out because when we went before the doctor had noticed something he wanted to keep an eye on (just some more healing from her surgery in July). At that time, Abby also got a bad cold, her first since tubes, so it was nice to get them all checked out. We were all clear and Abby just had a cold. But, in Japan for a cold, they prescribe a steroid patch for kids with colds. You put it on their skin and it helps to open their airways like it would for an asthmatic. I was skeptical at first since in the States if your child has a cold, they just say too bad! Dr. Lomax said he was skeptical at first too when parents asked for it, but that many parents ask for it repeatedly so he thinks they are valuable. We got the little patches for Abby from the pharmacy downstairs and they seemed to work pretty well. The patch is for 24 hours and we used it for about 5 days until Abby started to cough a lot less at night.
We went back at the end of October for the girls flu shots. Because of their ages, it required a doctor consultation so we saw the doctor again. He informed us that the girls needed to come back to the office in 1-4 weeks to get their second dose. What?! Two shots? I thought that was just for the first one they get in life. Abby didn't even notice the shot, but Ella was beside herself. And Jason and I left thinking, "how will we ever survive a second one of these?" But what do you do? So 2 weeks later we went back and got the second shot. Jason and I didn't want two shots, so he got his while he was in the US and I was supposed to get mine on my last trip home, but ended up coming down with something and couldn't. It will be one of our first stops this week for me - the Target Clinic! Here's hoping I don't catch the flu on the flight home.
So that's the story of the doctor...all cash up front and the doctor does a lot more than in the States. The clinic has worked well for us even though its not quite what we're used to (as everything here).
If you are heading to Japan or living in Japan as an expat, I hope this information helps you to know what to expect when you head to a clinic for the first time.
Kanpai!
Jess
5 December 2010
Today we mark the end of month 4 in Japan! This time is flying by. For our month-anniversary posts, I try to write about life in Japan in general...sort of the every day things or just to give people an idea of what life is like. I thought today I'd write a little about going to the doctor.
We go to an English speaking clinic here in Azabu Juban, just across from the Tokyo Tower, called the Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic. The clinic has 6 doctors or so and we see a British family practice doctor named Dr. Lomax. Dr.Lomax has lived in Japan for 17 years or so and has kids just a bit older than ours (I think his youngest is 5), so again we get to enjoy the fact that our "pediatrician" is also a parent of small kids and can relate. The clinic and this doctor were recommended to us when we got here and he's been great.
Our first visit to Dr. Lomax was for Abby's regular check-up. The clinic process is a little different and we weren't quite sure what we were doing at first. We checked in at the desk (no problem there), filled out the patient registration information and then sat down. There are about 16 numbered rooms down the hallways of the clinic. Suddenly from the loudspeaker we hear "Abigail Woehrle to Room 15 please". So we go to Room 15, open the door and there is Dr. Lomax, who was also the one who called us over the loudspeaker. The doctor did all of Abby's measurements and then talked to us a bit about her history. We discussed immunizations and her ear tubes of course. It was strange not to have a nurse do the medical history or her vitals. When it was time for immunizations, Dr. Lomax put an order in the computer and a few minutes later a nurse came in with the tray. As soon as the band-aid was on, she left again and that was the only time we saw the nurse. It seems a bit opposite of how it is in the U.S., where you mostly see a nurse and then get a little time with the doctor. Dr. Lomax wrote a note in his journal to send us an email in December to remind us of Abby's next check up and then talked to us about flu shots (more on that later).
We left the appointment and took the paperwork back out to the desk. Here's where we had no clue what we were doing! In Japan, everyone is on National Health Insurance and pays a 30% copay on all services. Our clinic is for ex-pats like us and doesn't take the National Health Insurance. However, they don't process any paperwork for your insurance either. So luckily I had printed the form I needed and brought it along. We paid cash for the entire visit costs and then we submit to insurance. I just submitted the forms for all our visits this fall so I certainly hope I filled them out correctly. And I don't really know how much we'll get reimbursed but I hope its a good portion because doctors aren't cheap and nothing in Japan is cheap so the combination is a bit tough to swallow!
We've been back a few times since then. We had a follow-up visit for Abby 1 month later to check her ears out because when we went before the doctor had noticed something he wanted to keep an eye on (just some more healing from her surgery in July). At that time, Abby also got a bad cold, her first since tubes, so it was nice to get them all checked out. We were all clear and Abby just had a cold. But, in Japan for a cold, they prescribe a steroid patch for kids with colds. You put it on their skin and it helps to open their airways like it would for an asthmatic. I was skeptical at first since in the States if your child has a cold, they just say too bad! Dr. Lomax said he was skeptical at first too when parents asked for it, but that many parents ask for it repeatedly so he thinks they are valuable. We got the little patches for Abby from the pharmacy downstairs and they seemed to work pretty well. The patch is for 24 hours and we used it for about 5 days until Abby started to cough a lot less at night.
We went back at the end of October for the girls flu shots. Because of their ages, it required a doctor consultation so we saw the doctor again. He informed us that the girls needed to come back to the office in 1-4 weeks to get their second dose. What?! Two shots? I thought that was just for the first one they get in life. Abby didn't even notice the shot, but Ella was beside herself. And Jason and I left thinking, "how will we ever survive a second one of these?" But what do you do? So 2 weeks later we went back and got the second shot. Jason and I didn't want two shots, so he got his while he was in the US and I was supposed to get mine on my last trip home, but ended up coming down with something and couldn't. It will be one of our first stops this week for me - the Target Clinic! Here's hoping I don't catch the flu on the flight home.
So that's the story of the doctor...all cash up front and the doctor does a lot more than in the States. The clinic has worked well for us even though its not quite what we're used to (as everything here).
If you are heading to Japan or living in Japan as an expat, I hope this information helps you to know what to expect when you head to a clinic for the first time.
Kanpai!
Jess
5:11 AM |
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