Solving the 'No Occupational Physician Available' Dilemma — Launch of a Stress Check System Developed by an Occupational Physician

Sendai Saito Occupational Health Office (location: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture; representative: Yusuke Saito) has launched an online stress check system developed by a physician. In anticipation of the upcoming mandatory expansion of stress checks to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees starting April 2028, the office will offer SMEs a one-stop 'total occupational health service' covering implementation, physician interviews, and workplace improvements.

Background: 'We Conduct Stress Checks, But Can’t Find an Occupational Physician Afterward'

Under Article 66-10 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, stress checks are currently mandatory only for workplaces employing 50 or more workers. However, starting April 2028, this requirement will expand to include workplaces with fewer than 50 employees.

Meanwhile, many SMEs report difficulties in finding physicians to conduct follow-up interviews or support high-stress employees after implementing stress checks. Most outsourced service providers only handle the implementation phase, leaving companies to arrange interviews and workplace improvements on their own.

This lack of post-check support undermines the system’s original purpose: 'early detection and intervention for mental health issues.'

Three Key Features of the Physician-Developed Stress Check Service

【① End-to-End One-Stop Service】

Dr. Yusuke Saito, the representative occupational physician, oversees the entire process—from implementation, scoring, and group analysis to individual interviews for high-stress employees and workplace improvement recommendations. We co-create a sustainable follow-up system to serve as a reliable post-check support structure.

【② In-House Developed Online System】

・Compliant with the MHLW's 'Brief Job Stress Assessment (57-item version)'

・Accessible via smartphone or PC; takes only 10–15 minutes

・Immediately displays personalized feedback to the individual upon completion (invisible to employers or supervisors)

・For high-stress cases, the system instantly prompts the user to submit an interview request form

【③ Support for Regulation Development and Health Committee Compliance】

We provide templates for stress check implementation regulations and support attendance at health committee meetings, including assistance with survey reviews and discussions, covering all legal compliance steps for businesses.

Highest-Level Protection of Sensitive Personal Information

Stress check results are legally classified as 'sensitive personal information.' Our system complies with the MHLW's 'Guidelines for the Security Management of Medical Information Systems (Version 6.0)' and JIS Q 15001:2023.

We combine multiple security measures—including encrypted communications, encrypted data storage, mandatory two-factor authentication, and access control—ensuring that only the occupational physician can access test results. Individual responses and high-stress determinations are never visible to company staff without the employee’s explicit consent.

Minimizing Workload for Company Administrators

Through system automation and physician-led process integration, we significantly reduce the operational burden on HR and labor management staff.

Future Outlook

Leveraging our experience supporting occupational health for over 15 companies in and around Sendai City, we will expand our online, end-to-end service to small and medium-sized enterprises nationwide.

In preparation for the April 2028 mandate for small workplaces, we aim to address the real challenges faced by SMEs—'We must comply, but lack in-house experts'—by offering a trusted, physician-led one-stop service combined with technology-driven efficiency.