Going to Clinics and Hospitals
Monitoring Your Health Daily, Preventing/Curing Diseases
Medical facilities in Japan can mainly be divided into two different kinds: clinics and hospitals.
Each medical facility has its own specialization(s) and characteristics.
It would be a good idea for you to look up what kinds are close to where you live.
Hospitals
Hospitals often have many different medical departments, equipment, and staff, but initial fees can be high if you do not have a referral letter. Waiting times can also be long with extended consultations being difficult.
Clinics
These are often close to where people live, and you can consult with a medical professional about you or your family's health. However, it may be difficult for you to have large surgeries performed at a clinic.
Please note that clinics are specialized and as a result may not able to treat certain illnesses or diseases.
The Main Types of Clinics
It is recommended that you visit a clinic if you have a minor cold or otherwise non-urgent illness.
Going to a clinic that you trust near where you live can have benefits, such as your doctor being able to continuously monitor your health over time.
- If you have a cold, etc. and are not feeling well.：Internal medicine (内科)
- If you think your vision has gotten worse, your eyes hurt, etc.：Eye doctor (眼科)
- If you have any problems with your ears or nose：Ear and nose specialist (耳鼻科)
- If you have any problems with your skin or nails：Dermatologist (皮膚科)
- If you break a bone or have certain kinds of pain：Orthopedic surgery (整形外科)
- If your teeth hurt, etc.：Dentist (歯科)
- If you are feeling very depressed, etc.：Psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine (精神科・心療内科)
- If a child of your's does not feel well：Pediatrician (小児科 )
- If you are pregnant：Obstetrics (産科), department of obstetrics and gynecology (産婦人科)
- If you are having issues related to women’s health, etc.：Gynecologist (婦人科), department of obstetrics and gynecology (産婦人科)
Things to Keep in Mind when Getting Treated
- When getting treated, there will be a first time application that you will need to fill out (and fee to pay with that).
- The amount of time your appointment will take depends upon the clinic, so be sure to ask the clinic you are going to if necessary.
- If you don't bring your health insurance card with you, you will have to pay for all expenses.
- You will need to present your health insurance card every month when going to a clinic/hospital.
- You will also need to present your new health insurance card when it is changed/renewed.
- If you are on a trip (overseas) or don't have your health insurance card with you due to an emergency situation, you will have to pay for all expenses, but you can apply to be reimbursed for the amount that your insurance would have covered after.
- Things to bring
- Health insurance card
- An official ID such as your residence card, passport, etc.
- Cash (you may be able to pay with other methods such as a credit card in some places)
- A medicine booklet if you have one (can receive one at a pharmacy)
(It contains the records of medications that you have received. It contains information about if certain medications you have are safe to take together, if medication you have used in the past was effective or not, etc. that pharmacists can referrence.)
Steps to Being Examined at a General Hospital
When being examined for the first time
If you have a referral letter, your examination will go smoother and your first time examination fee will also be waived.
It would be a good idea for you to have your primary care physician write you a referral letter before going to be examined at a hospital.
- Please show your health insurance card and referral letter to the receptionist (if you have a referral letter).
Describe your symptoms and which department you would like to visit
(You may have to write your symptoms on a medical history form.) - Take the patient ID card that the receptionist gave to you to the service window of the department you will be examined at.
Please wait outside the exam room until it is your turn to be seen. - When your number is called, enter the exam room to see the doctor.
- Please go to the payment window after being examined and pay for any fees that you have incurred.
- If you are prescribed medicine, take the prescription that your doctor wrote to a pharmacy to receive it.
What to do for follow-up appointments
Show your patient ID card at the reception window and wait to be seen.
All of the processes after that should be the same as your first visit.
If you are referred to another medical institution by the hospital you are visiting but continue to receive medical care, you will be charged a fee for selected medical treatment at the follow-up appointment.
Hospitalization
- There are various types of hospital rooms, such as those that can accommodate one or several people.
- You may need someone to accompany you depending on the hospital.
- When being admitted, you will need your health insurance card and items you need in your daily life, such as pajamas, towels, clothes, toiletries, etc.
- In many cases, you will need a guarantor and have to pay a deposit.
(A guarantor is someone that can pay your treatment and admission fees in the case that you are unable to and will be the person to contact in case of emergency.)
Gifu Municipal Hospital
This hospital is a core hospital that strives to provide high quality and cutting-edge medical care.
Address
7-1 Kashima-cho, Gifu City
Tel.
058-251-1101 (representative line)
Departments
Internal medicine, diabetes/endocrinology, psychiatry, neurology, respiratory oncology, gastroenterology, hematology, cardiology, nephrology, pediatrics, surgery, breast surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, respiratory surgery, cardiovascular surgery, dermatology, urology, obstetrics & gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology (ENT), head & neck surgery, rehabilitation, radiology, anesthesiology, pathology, clinical laboratory, dentistry, dental surgery
Outpatient care (first time) reception times
Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 11:00am
Days outpatient care unavailable
Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, the New Year's period
Medical checkups *All require a reservation
- Half-day complete medical checkups
8:30am - 12:30pm - Brain checkups
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (for around three hours) - PET-CT exams
Tuesdays, Wedsnesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (for around three hours) - Hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer checkups
Mondays, Wedsnesdays, Fridays (for around three hours)
Other
Female outpatient care, second opinion outpatient care, palliative outpatient care, Cancer Consultation Support Center, Dementia Medical Center, etc.
Things to be aware of
Those that do not have a referral letter written by a medical institution and are being seen for their current symptoms for the first time, in principle, will have to pay ¥7700 as a selected medical treatment fee.
<those that have a welfare medical expense recipient certificate (children, single parent households, etc.) are liable to cover this fee in full as well>
If You Suddenly Get Sick During the Night or when the Hospitals are Closed
Things to bring with you
- Health insurance card
- Welfare medical expense recipient certificate
- Mother and child health book
- Medicine booklet
- Money to pay for medical expenses (cash)
- Referral letter from another medical institution, etc.
Things to be aware of
Those that do not have a referral letter written by a medical institution and are being seen for their current symptoms for the first time, in principle, will have to pay ¥7700 as a selected medical treatment fee.
<those that have a welfare medical expense recipient certificate (children, single parent households, etc.) are liable to cover this fee in full as well>
Holiday Sudden Illness Center (inside Gifu Municipal Hospital)
- Locations
- 7-1 Kashima-cho, Gifu City
-
Tel.
-
058-253-7277
- Department
-
- Internal medicine
- Pediatrics
- Days available
-
- Sundays
- Public holidays
- New Year's period (Dec. 31 - Jan. 3）
- Times available
-
- 9:00am - 1:00pm
- 2:00pm - 6:00pm
- 7:00pm - 11:00pm
- Reception times
-
- 8:30am - 12:30pm
- 1:30pm - 5:30pm
- 6:30pm - 10:30pm
Pediatric Nighttime Sudden Illness Center (inside Gifu Municipal Hospital)
- Locations
- 7-1 Kashima-cho, Gifu City
- Tel.
-
058-251-1101 (representative line)
- Department
- Pediatrics
- Days available
- Monday - Saturday
- Times available
- 7:30pm - 11:00pm
- Reception times
- 7:00pm - 10:30pm
Department of Pediatrics, Gifu Municipal Hospital
- Tel.
-
058-251-1101 (representative line)
- Department
- Pediatrics
- Days available
- Every day
- Times available
- 11:00pm - 8:00am the next day
Holiday Sudden Illness Dental Center (inside Gifu Municipal Hospital)
- Locations
- 7-1 Kashima-cho, Gifu City
- Tel.
-
058-253-7337
- Department
-
Dentistry
- Days available
-
- Sundays
- Public holidays
- New Year's period (Dec. 31 - Jan. 3）
- Times available
-
- 9:00am - 1:00pm
- 2:00pm - 6:00pm
- Reception times
-
- 8:30am - 12:30pm
- 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Additional Tips for What to Do if You Become Ill During the Night, Holidays, etc.
If you get sick and are worried about your symptoms, please contact your primary care doctor.
If your primary care doctor is unavailable
Contact (always available with free consultations)
Medical Emergency Relief Center #7119
If you cannot reach the above number, please dial 058-265-0009 instead
Before going to be examined (if recommended to do)
Call the medical facility that was introduced to you to confirm that you can be seen.
Pediatric Emergency Phone Consultations
You can call the following numbers to consult about how to perform first aid for children and medical facilities they can go to.
Cell phones/push-button landlines
＃8000
Non push-button landlines and public phones
058-240-4199
Times available
- Monday - Friday
6pm - 8am the next day - Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, the New Year's period (December 29 - January 3)
8am - 8am the next day (available 24 hours)
| Name |
Address |
Tel. |
|---|---|---|
|
Gifu University Hospital |
1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City |
058-230-6000 |
|
Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center |
4-6-1 Noisshiki, Gifu City |
058-246-1111 |
|
Japanese Red Cross Gifu Hospital |
3-36 Iwakura-cho, Gifu City |
058-231-2266 |
| Nagara Medical Center | 1300-7 Nagara, Gifu City | 058-232-7755 |
