Patient-support activities

We carry out our activities from the West Ward on the 4^th floor of Hamamatsu University Hospital. Including beds shared for patients of other specialties, we have 43 beds (including 28 beds specific to pediatric cases). Of the 11 rooms with single beds, 2 are designed as sterile rooms and used not only for the treatment of children with leukemia and malignant tumors, but also for children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplants. In the Play Room, equipped with an air cleaning device, even children with compromised immunity can play. Picture books, other books and videos are also available in the room, which thus serves as a bright and friendly space for children's relaxation. Various festivals (e.g., Girl's Festival, Tanabata Festival, Halloween Festival, Christmas, etc.) are also celebrated periodically at the initiative of volunteer students, nurses and young and active doctors.

About 1/5^th of all the children admitted are children with malignancies such as leukemia and malignant lymphoma. Patients with other diseases such as endocrine/metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, etc.), cardiac diseases, renal diseases, neurological diseases, and immune diseases/collagen diseases/allergic diseases are also managed actively by teams led by specialists of the respective fields. Of course, inpatient care for acute infections (bronchitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, etc.) is also provided. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of children with psychiatric disorders (anorexia, schoolphobia, etc.) and psychosomatic diseases admitted to this hospital. For cases with diseases requiring treatment by doctors belonging to the specialty of "pediatric surgery," we provide surgical treatment and appropriate postoperative management in cooperation with the Department of Pediatric Surgery.

Our pediatric ward is characterized by the availability of specialists in each field of pediatrics, who are directly involved in the management of individual cases and by the presence of an in-hospital school (corresponding to elementary school and junior high school), which cannot be found in any other hospital in Hamamatsu City. This in-hospital school ensures that there are no concerns about absence from their regular schools/delay in learning as compared to healthy children for children admitted to the hospital for prolonged periods of time. In addition, the school provides to the hospitalized children a space/world with only other children (apart from school teachers), including no healthcare providers, for at least a part of their hospital days, which serves as a conducive environment for the children to show a surprising level of growth during their hospital stay.

Smile Heart Society

Since July 2009, this society has been holding meetings for supporting the family members of children receiving or have received treatment for cancer.

The organizers of this society heartily wish that this society can help patients (now receiving treatment) and their family members receive better healthcare and education at hospitals and educational facilities. You are encouraged to let us know your concerns and anxieties at meetings with a small number of participants.

Subjects discussed at the "Smile Heart Society" until date are cited below.

* Anxiety about life after discharge from the hospital

* How to deal with school and teachers

* Discrepancy in views/intentions between husband and wife or among family members

* Question/doubt about the ways of the healthcare providers

* Need for consultants capable of providing mental care

* Problems related to growth

* Problems related to external appearance

* Problems related to friends at school

* Understanding of palliative care, etc.

The society holds a meeting on the first Sunday of each month, beginning at 10:00 am, at the in-hospital school "Tanpopo Class" within the Hamamatsu University Hospital (there may be months when no meeting is held).

Because the schedule can change for various reasons, please contact the person specified below for details of the meeting or if you have any opinion or desire to express.

(POC) Representative Organizer: Mayumi Kato