3) Home care of elderly patients
Japan is the world’s most aged country. The long-term care insurance
system in Japan was started in 2000, and many elderly patients have
since received home care services. Some elderly patients have difficulty
visiting medical facilities on a regular basis due to low activity of
daily living. In such cases, the family doctor can send an ECG device by
post, and the family or home care worker can attach the device to the
patient’s chest. If the ECG shows any abnormalities, the family doctor
would share the ECG data with a cardiologist and ask them how to deal
with the arrythmia. This would be particularly useful in areas in Japan
where there is poor access to medical facilities.