First Week

So I titled the blog 'Training in Japan'. It's kind of a double entendre as I'm training with John Wocher but also training for a marathon. Unfortunately, little marathon training (no marathon training) has taken place thus far. I'll keep you posted.

I worked Thursday and Friday of my first week as I arrived late on Wednesday night. Both days started off similarly, work at 7:45 am with an administrative team meeting at 8:00 am. This can be confusing as it is, obviously, conducted in Japanese. Good thing I've mastered the language. It's amazing how quickly you can pick things up once you're immersed in it (just kidding, I know at least someone fell for that). Typically they go slowly so someone can translate and I can get an idea of how the meeting goes.

I thought these two days were particularly important because I spent them mostly with my preceptor touring many of the Kameda facilities in addition to some city facilities that Kameda works with. On the first day we toured the clinics which are located to the right of the K-Tower (the largest building that can be noted in almost any picture of Kameda). Their clinics operate very efficiently but one thing I took away is how little time the patients spend with their physicians. Many are in and out in about 15 minutes. However, the average Japanese patient sees their physician 16 times per year! Much more than the average American.

I had lunch with Isobe-san, John's assistant. She has been very helpful getting me setup and showing me around Kameda as well. I learned a little about her family and she probably learned more than necessary about me.

After lunch John and I toured a couple more facilities, intermediate care and long term care. Kameda provides the doctors for these facilities when necessary but they are city owned.

On Friday, John and I went to Tokyo for a wine tasting dinner with the Tokyo Wine Society. It was my first time to Tokyo and it was impressive. The city expands for what seems like forever. We tasted 9 wines (none of which I could tell you anything about, but I did still rank them). We met a variety of people, everyone seemed to be from a different country and my first pick-up attempt in Japan was thwarted by John. She was a doctor and was shocked that I worked for Kameda, but once she found out I was with John Wocher, well then she only wanted to ask him more about Kameda and tell him he's famous. Thanks. I think I'll give her a call anyweay, I need a Tokyo tour guide...