Crossing Borders to Deliver "Heart-to-Heart Healthcare" — Vice Director Shigeta, Hitohito Care Clinic

Crossing Borders to Deliver "Heart-to-Heart Healthcare"

— Interview of Vice Director Shigeta, HitoHito Healthcare Clinic

(Celebrating the Clinic’s Birthday)

(As a Training Instructor)

Q (Interviewer Miyazaki): Could you share your background and what led you to join Hitohito Healthcare Clinic?

A (Vice Director Shigeta): After working as a nurse in acute care hospitals, I founded a human resources development company that conducts staff training for hospitals across Japan. Having also been involved in local community development, I was invited by Dr. Nakamura to join the clinic three to four years ago. Currently, in addition to nursing duties, I am in charge of human resources and education for the clinic as a director.

Q: What kind of person is Dr. Nakamura?

A: In short, he is an extraordinarily compassionate doctor with exceptional diagnostic skills. Although he is a neurosurgeon, he is also well-versed in orthopedics and internal medicine. He listens closely to patients and explains the causes of their conditions in an easy-to-understand manner. He values a flat organizational structure such as holacracy. He is also deeply dedicated to the community—believing that clean streets lead to fewer illnesses, he has personally picked up trash in the local shopping street every morning for the past three years.

(First Aid Medical Team at the Nepal Festival)

Q: How do you support foreign patients and promote multicultural coexistence?

A: We have installed a real-time translation device called the "VUEVO Display," supporting around 100 languages at the reception desk to lower communication barriers. We also emphasize greeting patients in their native languages. Beyond words, we show thoughtful care in other ways—for instance, when a French patient who loved anime visited us, we played Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba videos. For our Muslim staff, we have prepared a space on the second floor equipped with facilities for washing feet and praying.

Regarding staff recruitment, applicants submit an 800-character statement of purpose for rigorous screening to hire outstanding talent. Additionally, we empower staff in their 20s and 30s with decision-making authority to incorporate fresh ideas whenever possible.

Q: Please tell us about your clinical system, environment design, community activities, and future outlook.

A: Our clinic is fully equipped with MRI facilities, allowing examinations that would normally require multiple visits at large hospitals to be completed in a single day.

We have also created a “healing space” within the hospital, incorporating wooden furniture and handmade signage. When waiting times become long, we encourage patients to take a stroll around the neighborhood, and we offer seasonal drinks.

In addition, together with nearby clinics, we hold the “Momonowa Lecture Series” to help local residents better understand health and illness. We also hold a mini-lecture series called Hito tte Ii tomo (“People Are Wonderful”), which introduces unique people from the local community.

Although there is still much to learn through trial and error, we hope to spread “compassionate community healthcare”—care that transcends borders and brings people closer together—throughout Japan.

[Interviewer's Note] I was deeply impressed to see the staff listening to elderly and foreign patients at eye level in the waiting room. Their thoughtful care for anxious patients is truly wonderful. I sincerely hope to see more healthcare institutions like HitoHito Healthcare Clinic in the future. (Kazumi Miyazaki, Publisher of GLOBALCOMMUNITY)