5th Nagano Prefecture Online Medical Examination Study Group (July 17, 2026) — On Medical Law Reform and Implementation of Online Consultations
Shinshu Medical Development (SMI) will hold the 5th Nagano Prefecture Online Medical Examination Study Group on July 17, 2026, in Shiojiri City and online. The session will discuss how to utilize the newly established 'Online Medical Examination Facilities' under the 2026 medical law revisions, along with sustainable operational models led by municipal staff and nurses.
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The 5th Nagano Prefecture Online Medical Examination Study Group
Shinshu Medical Development (HQ: Shiojiri City, Nagano; Representative Director: Shinichiro Imai) will host the '5th Nagano Prefecture Online Medical Examination Study Group' on Friday, July 17, 2026, both in Shiojiri City and online.
The event will feature presentations from national pioneers, focusing on the utilization of 'Online Medical Examination Facilities,' newly established under the 2026 medical law reforms, and the practical implementation of these systems led by municipal government officials and nurses.
[Event Registration Page]
https://forms.gle/9hRRej2bcdVN2E5R6
(Open to municipal officials, healthcare professionals, related businesses, and the general public.)
■ From 'Maintaining Medical Institutions' to 'Maintaining Medical Access Points'
In rural areas struggling with aging populations and uneven distribution of physicians, maintaining traditional clinics with resident doctors in every locality is becoming increasingly difficult. To address this crisis, the Japanese government officially clarified 'online medical consultation' through the 2026 medical law reform and introduced 'Online Medical Examination Facilities.' By significantly increasing medical fees for D to P with N (nursing assistance in remote medical care), the government has set a clear direction that leveraging online consultation is essential to fill the medical void.
Online Medical Examination Facilities are not medical institutions themselves but patient access points for online consultation that can be established via a reporting system. They hold the potential to build regional medical access without being restricted by physician shortages.
However, even with the regulations in place, know-how at the implementation level—such as 'how to apply this to the field,' 'how to advance coordination with related organizations,' and 'how to optimize budget and personnel'—remains scarce.
This 5th study group will intentionally focus on 'non-physician stakeholders (administrative officials and on-site nurses)' to discuss high-reproducibility implementation models that avoid over-investment and ensure sustainable field operations.
■ Program and Highlights
[Presentation 1] Initiatives for Introducing Online Consultation: From the Perspective of a Municipal Official
Speaker: Takayuki Nakamura, Assistant Manager, Finance Division, Toba City, Mie Prefecture
Highlights: The 'Toba City Model' is highly acclaimed nationwide for networking medical resources across remote islands and mountainous areas in a municipality without a hospital. Nakamura will share the history of the real-world coordination and implementation from the perspective of an administrative official familiar with finance and administrative planning.
[Presentation 2] Online Consultation Initiatives at Narakawa Clinic
Speaker: Tomoyoshi Nakazawa, Section Chief, Health Promotion Division, Shiojiri City
Highlights: A report from the front lines in Nagano on how the municipality identifies challenges to maintain regional healthcare and redesigns it into a highly sustainable model combining online consultation.
[Presentation 3] The Role of Nurses in Remote Area Clinics Regarding Online Consultation
Speaker: Masami Morikawa, Head Nurse, Hongou Clinic, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Highlights: The key to the success of D to P with N (clinic-based or home-visit online consultation) lies in the presence of nurses who support patients on-site. Morikawa will discuss the diverse roles nurses must fulfill in physician-absent environments and how to overcome the psychological pressure.
[Presentation 4] Medical Law Reform and Online Consultation
Speaker: Shinichiro Imai, Representative Director, Shinshu Medical Development
Highlights: An explanation of the key points of the reform based on actual discussions with Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare officials, including the background and intentions behind the changes.
■ Event Overview
Date: Friday, July 17, 2026, 13:00 - 15:30
Venue: Shiojiri Citizens' Exchange Center 'En-park' 4F, Meeting Room 401
Format: Hybrid (In-person + Online)
Target: Municipal officials (medical, DX, finance), healthcare professionals, related businesses, general public
Fee: Free (advance registration required)
Organizer: Shinshu Medical Development
Shinshu Medical Development (HQ: Shiojiri City, Nagano; Representative Director: Shinichiro Imai) will host the '5th Nagano Prefecture Online Medical Examination Study Group' on Friday, July 17, 2026, both in Shiojiri City and online.
The event will feature presentations from national pioneers, focusing on the utilization of 'Online Medical Examination Facilities,' newly established under the 2026 medical law reforms, and the practical implementation of these systems led by municipal government officials and nurses.
[Event Registration Page]
https://forms.gle/9hRRej2bcdVN2E5R6
(Open to municipal officials, healthcare professionals, related businesses, and the general public.)
■ From 'Maintaining Medical Institutions' to 'Maintaining Medical Access Points'
In rural areas struggling with aging populations and uneven distribution of physicians, maintaining traditional clinics with resident doctors in every locality is becoming increasingly difficult. To address this crisis, the Japanese government officially clarified 'online medical consultation' through the 2026 medical law reform and introduced 'Online Medical Examination Facilities.' By significantly increasing medical fees for D to P with N (nursing assistance in remote medical care), the government has set a clear direction that leveraging online consultation is essential to fill the medical void.
Online Medical Examination Facilities are not medical institutions themselves but patient access points for online consultation that can be established via a reporting system. They hold the potential to build regional medical access without being restricted by physician shortages.
However, even with the regulations in place, know-how at the implementation level—such as 'how to apply this to the field,' 'how to advance coordination with related organizations,' and 'how to optimize budget and personnel'—remains scarce.
This 5th study group will intentionally focus on 'non-physician stakeholders (administrative officials and on-site nurses)' to discuss high-reproducibility implementation models that avoid over-investment and ensure sustainable field operations.
■ Program and Highlights
[Presentation 1] Initiatives for Introducing Online Consultation: From the Perspective of a Municipal Official
Speaker: Takayuki Nakamura, Assistant Manager, Finance Division, Toba City, Mie Prefecture
Highlights: The 'Toba City Model' is highly acclaimed nationwide for networking medical resources across remote islands and mountainous areas in a municipality without a hospital. Nakamura will share the history of the real-world coordination and implementation from the perspective of an administrative official familiar with finance and administrative planning.
[Presentation 2] Online Consultation Initiatives at Narakawa Clinic
Speaker: Tomoyoshi Nakazawa, Section Chief, Health Promotion Division, Shiojiri City
Highlights: A report from the front lines in Nagano on how the municipality identifies challenges to maintain regional healthcare and redesigns it into a highly sustainable model combining online consultation.
[Presentation 3] The Role of Nurses in Remote Area Clinics Regarding Online Consultation
Speaker: Masami Morikawa, Head Nurse, Hongou Clinic, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Highlights: The key to the success of D to P with N (clinic-based or home-visit online consultation) lies in the presence of nurses who support patients on-site. Morikawa will discuss the diverse roles nurses must fulfill in physician-absent environments and how to overcome the psychological pressure.
[Presentation 4] Medical Law Reform and Online Consultation
Speaker: Shinichiro Imai, Representative Director, Shinshu Medical Development
Highlights: An explanation of the key points of the reform based on actual discussions with Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare officials, including the background and intentions behind the changes.
■ Event Overview
Date: Friday, July 17, 2026, 13:00 - 15:30
Venue: Shiojiri Citizens' Exchange Center 'En-park' 4F, Meeting Room 401
Format: Hybrid (In-person + Online)
Target: Municipal officials (medical, DX, finance), healthcare professionals, related businesses, general public
Fee: Free (advance registration required)
Organizer: Shinshu Medical Development
FAQ
When and where will the 5th Nagano Prefecture Online Medical Consultation Research Meeting be held?
It will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 13:00 to 15:30 at the Enpark 4F Conference Room 401, Shiojiri City Citizen Exchange Center, and online.
What is the theme of this research meeting?
The theme focuses on the utilization of 'online medical consultation facilities' established by the 2026 Medical Law amendment, and the implementation and integration into the field led by local government staff and nurses.
Who can participate?
Anyone can participate, including local government staff (medical, DX, and finance officers), healthcare professionals, related industry personnel, and the general public.
Is there a participation fee?
Participation is free, but prior registration is required.
Who are the scheduled speakers?
The speakers include Takayuki Nakamura from Toba City, Mie Prefecture, Tomoyoshi Nakazawa from Shiojiri City, Masami Morikawa from Hombu Clinic, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Shinichiro Imai, the representative director of Shinshu Medical Development.