Journal of the Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회지)

The Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회)
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A Study on Regionalization of Telemedicine in Japan : A Case of the Kagawa Prefecture

일본 원격진료의 지역화 형성 및 특성에 관한 연구 : 카가와현(香川県)을 통한 지방의 원격진료 사례를 중심으로

  • Received : 2011.06.23
  • Accepted : 2011.08.17
  • Published : 2011.08.31
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Abstract

This research investigates a geographical issue as to which factor discovered in the only Japanese telemedicine with regard to social and medical circumstances performs a role as a determinant in regionalization, especially, local areas in Japan. According to the results, strong human networks based on regionalism are mirrored in regionalization and are associated with not only the development and management of telemedicine operations, but also the choice of telemedicine users concretely. In other words, all processes from the suggestion stage of telemedicine to the practical usage or application stage of telemedicine are involved in the existing human networks within one prefecture (the third diagnostic area); further, personal stakes are transferred to public health care services (telemedicine) and their relationships have been formulated by the telemedicine council including local government, medical association, region-rooted companies, core health centers and universities, etc. Accordingly, the telemedicine council responses to the need of telemedicine users immediately and contributes to develop regional health care. Also, telemedicine users have been connected with each other closely before operating telemedicine; accordingly, the human relationships between doctors and patients or among doctors influence the choice of telemedicine serving sites and their behaviors comes down to regional-based diagnosis via the telemedicine system.

본 연구에서는 원격진료 기술로 병원간 통합을 꾀하고 있는 일본의 사례를 중심으로, 원격진료의 지역화 형성 및 특성에 대해 알아보았다. 연구를 통한 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 일본에서는 원격진료의 효과적인 운용을 위해, 현청, 지역 내 대학, 의사회, 지역 산업을 기반으로 하는 기업 등을 주축으로 하는 "원격진료 의원회"를 구성하여, 이를 활발한 의사 교환의 장(場)으로 이용하고 있다. 따라서 지역의 다양한 의료 종사자와 환자의 직접적인 수요를 최대한 반영하고, 조속히 맞춤형 원격진료 서비스를 제공할 수 있는 환경을 형성하였다. 둘째, 이미 형성된 긴밀한 인간관계가 원격의료의 지역화에 크게 관여하고 있다. 지역의료의 발전을 위한 정책 결정자-의사 집단 간의 관계, 의사회의 정기적인 모임과 연장자 의사 집단의 지역의료에 대한 깊은 이해 및 지원 등을 기반으로 하는 의사-의사 간의 관계, 긴 시간 신뢰를 쌓은 의사-환자 간의 관계 등은 원격진료의 발안 단계에서부터 실제적인 이용과 응용의 단계까지 두루 걸쳐 일본에서만 보여지는 지역화의 특성을 결정짓는다. 결론적으로 오프라인에서 형성된 개인적 차원의 관계(게마인샤프트)가 온라인상의 공적 차원(게젤샤프트)의 서비스로 전환되는 현상이 일본 원격진료의 지역화에서 보여지는 고유한 양식이라고 할 수 있다. 이는 하나의 현을 중심으로 하는 사회, 경제, 문화적인 특성들이 원격진료에서도 고스란히 투영되어 나타나기 때문인 것으로 파악된다.

Keywords

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