April

     This month is shaping up to be a busy one, I guess. April is the commencement month in many fields in Japan. In schools and kindergardens a new year starts. In many companies people start working with newcomers.
     In my hospital there are newcomers as a helper, a physical therapist and a nurse. They started working on Apr. 1st. Because I returned to Japan from Canada on Apr. 3rd, it seemed like I was a newcomer. I visited their sections and said hello. I have to watch them not to make mistakes for a while. Besides, the review of the medical insurance system was done this spring by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). A new system had started this April. I found lots of new paper forms on my desk and the staff assignment had completely changed. In Japan almost all hospitals are controlled by the MHLW with modifying medical insurance systems. The modification of this time is so heavy that we anticipate a 3% fall in revenue. We have to find out useful tactics in the management of my hospital.