 Presenter: Jessica Gordon

 Be sure to take the medical card (kenko hoensho) with you to every doctor you see  Be sure to get registered with your nearest hospital as soon as possible!  Most likely, your nearest hospital will give you a slip of paper and/ or card as well. o Highly suggested: Keep all medical slips and cards together in case of emergency

Do you have your medical card (kenko hoensho)? Do you have this clinic’s / hospital’s registered card (shinsatsu ken)? Do you have a Japanese/ English medical dictionary? Do you have your supervisor/ JTE? Not always necessary for a cold or something small Very necessary if you have no idea what’s wrong with you

 First time you go you will be given an application form (shinsatsu moshikoshimo) o After you fill it out, give it to the receptionist with your medical card  You’ll get a patient’s card (shinsatsu ken)  Then you will wait…and wait…and wait….(bring a book or something) o You might have to fill out some medical history paperwork while you wait  After you see your doctor, go to the receptionist or cashier to pay.  Lastly, get your medicine either from the medicine counter or go to a nearby pharmacy.

 First, call your school and supervisor and tell them you’re sick.  Next, go to the doctor and get a sick leave slip. o Warning! It will cost you money. o Or if you’re lucky, your school may accept a medicine slip as a leave slip.  You have about 10 days of paid medical leave  BUT! It can get tricky to use it Since most teachers in Japan don’t use their leave, oftentimes ALTs will feel pressured into not using their leave as well. Also, using medical leave in general has caused tension between ALTs and their Boards of Education.

 With your medical insurance card, you don’t pay for most doctor’s visits o All clinic visits are paid for by the BOE o Specialists can require you to pay upfront, but you should get your money back from the BOE for necessary medical needs.  You may have to pay some money for the medicine at the clinic o Somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 yen o Sick leave slip: 1,000 to 3,000 yen

 Answer a bunch of medical questions on this paper they thrust at you.  Take off your shirt. They need an X-ray.  Weight and height check.  Urine sample required.  Blood drain  Sight test  Hearing test  Stomach poking and prodding

If you think you might have a STI/STD, there are resources available to you:  Public Health Services (hokenjo) offer free and anonymous testing  Hospital testing costs: ¥ 5,000 - ¥1 8,000 o May not be anonymous so be careful  Japan HIV Center (Tokyo): o

If you’re feeling negatively stressed by your workplace, living situation, or experiencing cultural fatigue, contact one of the available helplines:  JETLINE:  JETMAIL:  AJET Peer Support Group: Your Prefectural Advisors (PAs) and Block Leaders are useful resources as well.