Internal Medicine Dermatology Rehabilitation

Our hospital's predecessor was Katsuhei Central Hospital, which opened in the Arayawariyama area of ​​Akita City in 1970, but in October 1988, we moved to our current location in the Sotoasahikawa area and changed our name to Sotoasahikawa Hospital, and this year marks our 35th anniversary. During this time, we have striven to provide high-quality medical care and have developed together with the local community. Currently, we have 207 beds in the convalescent ward and 34 beds in the palliative care ward. As a rear support hospital for acute care hospitals, the convalescent ward treats relatively severe chronic patients and provides acute care for the elderly, and since opening as the first in the prefecture, the palliative care ward has played a leading role in Akita Prefecture. Compared to a few years ago, the proportion of seriously ill patients has increased, with over 90% of patients in the convalescent ward being in medical category 3, and over 40 ventilators in operation.

　In this situation, the COVID-19 pandemic has become an opportunity for us to rethink our role as a rear support hospital. We have witnessed the situation in emergency medical care, where the number of elderly patients with underlying diseases who are more likely to become seriously ill if infected has increased, leading to an increased burden of nursing care and prolonged hospital stays, making it impossible to accept new patients. As a result, we have taken on such patients as a form of rear support at our hospital, where nursing care is also a strength. We would like to continue to do our utmost until the COVID-19 pandemic is completely eradicated.