[Survey Report] Over 60% of Medical Institutions Call for Collaboration with Specialized Consultancies for 'Single' Patient Care

The Japan Medical and Nursing Care Business Federation (hereinafter referred to as the Federation) conducted a survey titled 'Survey on the Full-Scale Initiation of Support for Single Patients' targeting medical institutions nationwide (73 valid responses). This survey revealed the reality of the acceptance systems for patients without guarantors (so-called 'singles') and the serious operational burden (shadow work) faced by medical social workers (MSWs) and discharge support nurses on the front lines. We will proceed with the construction, implementation, and verification of a system to support 'singles' across the entire region while coordinating with diverse stakeholders such as medical, administrative, nursing care, and private sectors.

[Survey Summary]
- While 58% of medical institutions 'accept patients unconditionally' even without a guarantor, there is a strong sense of crisis on the front lines.
- The biggest challenge is the 'operational burden due to shadow work by MSWs and discharge support nurses,' followed by 'unpaid medical bills' and 'stagnation of bed control.'
- Regarding the 'single patient problem,' 84% of institutions rely on 'individual responses by MSWs or discharge support nurses,' indicating insufficient organizational responses or specialized windows.
- Regarding private resources like 'life-long support services for the elderly,' negative images and lack of understanding prevail, such as 'cannot understand the service content' or 'cannot judge the reliability of the provider.'
- To solve the problem, the most frequently cited future initiative is 'collaboration with specialized consultation services.' 62% of responding facilities stated they 'would like to consider collaboration and cooperation with the Federation.'

[Survey Background]
With the progress of a super-aging society and the increase in single-person households, responding to the hospitalization and discharge support of 'singles' without guarantors has become a critical issue for medical institutions. However, response rules and social support systems are not sufficiently established, and it is pointed out that the burden is concentrated on the medical front lines. This survey was conducted to grasp the reality of the medical field and serve as basic data for considering future cooperation and support systems.

[Considerations and Future Developments from the Federation]
The survey results clarify that responding to 'single' patients is not a challenge that can be solved by medical institutions alone, and that structural problems such as barriers between medical and nursing care and manpower shortages are factors hindering the realization of a community-based integrated care system. Based on these results, the Federation will strengthen the following initiatives:
- Promoting understanding through in-hospital training and information provision for medical institutions.
- Building a network connecting medical, administrative, nursing care, and private service organizations.
- Implementation and verification of initiatives to solve field challenges.
The Federation will contribute to the realization of a society where even those without family can receive medical and nursing care with peace of mind, while protecting an environment where medical and nursing staff can focus on their original duties.