About 30 years ago, before I came to Tokyo for my first transfer, I knew that there was a hospital with a strange name called "Seiroca". After a while, the English name of the hospital was St. Knowing as Luke's International Hospital, I was out of Mission School and had a good point. "St. Luke" was "St. Luke".
This hospital was established by a missionary in 1874, and after many twists and turns, Ludolf Trister, a missionary of the St. Luke's Hospital purchased it in 1902. Furthermore, in 1933, it became "St. Luke International Hospital".
The area around Akashicho, where the hospital is located, is on my walking route and passes near the hospital, but as far as the outside, there was a large hospital atmosphere and there was an image that many medical professionals seemed to be difficult to approach. I had to stop by the next St. Luke's Tower to enjoy tea and snacks.
But a few years ago, my family fell on a trip to Tohoku, causing severe wounds in my eyes. I had an emergency operation at a local university hospital, but I did not go to Tohoku as it was, but I got a letter of introduction and returned to Tokyo. Eventually, my acquaintance worked at St. Luke's, so I asked him to follow up at St. Luke's. After going to the hospital several times, he was hospitalized and had surgery again, and he was hospitalized for about a week.
What I found when I entered the hospital was that, except in the case of emergency such as critical care, the treatment of patients with referrals from other medical facilities was given priority. There is almost no hospital odor in the hospital like a general hospital. In addition, nurse stations are also paperless, and there are very few documents and it is refreshing. It is close to the image of hospitals in Europe and the United States.
There are about 500 sick rooms, all of which are private rooms. Each room has a bath and toilet, so you can feel comfortable like a hotel. At present, about half is a difference bed, conversely half can be used for insurance. There seems to be no choice among patients. In the hospital, there is a Christian chapel only in the Christian hospital, so you can feel somewhat relaxed. There are also convenience stores and dining rooms, making it a modern facility.
In addition, various volunteers are working in the hospital, providing assistance not only to inpatients but also to outpatients. Speaking of "St. Luke's," many people think of the subway sarin attack. It seems that he is also focusing on emergency medical care, and ambulances are always in and out. It is encouraging that there is such a general hospital nearby.
Finally, "St. Luke's" is famous by Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, the president of 10 years old and who is still engaged in medical care. I'm just happy to see and hear that St. Luke's walking advertising tower is still active today.
