for the American Nurses Association and designated telenursing as a new field that
combines nursing science and information science and is a vital nursing practice for
the future of medical care (Sharpe, 2001). The authors defined telenursing as shown
in Fig. 1. Through the use of information science to manage health and assist in
treatment, telenursing is expected to become a major touchstone of future strategic
medical policy intended to extend healthy life expectancy and reduce medical
expenses.
2 Advances in Information Technology and Japanese
Medical Policy
In this section, we briefly outline the history of telemedicine and telenursing in
Japan. The Telemedicine Research Group was organized by the Ministry of Health,
Labour and Welfare in 1996, and the first Telemedicine Research Conference in
Japan was held in March 1997, marking an increase in societal interest in the field.
In December 1997, national and local governing bodies enacted the Long-Term
Care Insurance Act responsible for building a community-based, integrated care
system. At the same time, a notice from the director of the Health Policy Bureau of
the Ministry of Health and Welfare, entitled “Medical Treatment Utilizing Telecommunication Equipment (i.e.) ‘telemedicine,’” ruled that telemedicine did not infringe
directly on Article 20 of the Medical Practitioners’ Act (i.e., you may not provide
medical examination without face-to-face contact). In addition, the notice stipulated
Fig. 1 What is telenursing?
26
T. Kawaguchi and K. Toyomasu
combines nursing science and information science and is a vital nursing practice for
the future of medical care (Sharpe, 2001). The authors defined telenursing as shown
in Fig. 1. Through the use of information science to manage health and assist in
treatment, telenursing is expected to become a major touchstone of future strategic
medical policy intended to extend healthy life expectancy and reduce medical
expenses.
2 Advances in Information Technology and Japanese
Medical Policy
In this section, we briefly outline the history of telemedicine and telenursing in
Japan. The Telemedicine Research Group was organized by the Ministry of Health,
Labour and Welfare in 1996, and the first Telemedicine Research Conference in
Japan was held in March 1997, marking an increase in societal interest in the field.
In December 1997, national and local governing bodies enacted the Long-Term
Care Insurance Act responsible for building a community-based, integrated care
system. At the same time, a notice from the director of the Health Policy Bureau of
the Ministry of Health and Welfare, entitled “Medical Treatment Utilizing Telecommunication Equipment (i.e.) ‘telemedicine,’” ruled that telemedicine did not infringe
directly on Article 20 of the Medical Practitioners’ Act (i.e., you may not provide
medical examination without face-to-face contact). In addition, the notice stipulated
Fig. 1 What is telenursing?
26
T. Kawaguchi and K. Toyomasu