February 16th, 2007 (2 locations in Hokkaido)

We interviewed 2 visiting-nurse stations in Sapporo, Hokkaido, about disaster preparedness and mutual support networks. The first visiting-nurse station was attached to a hospital, and the hospital disaster manual was used for disaster preparation. Plans to create a manual for people who use the station were being discussed at that time.

The second visiting-nurse station had a parent station that served as an umbrella home care organization for visiting-nurse stations throughout Hokkaido. In the event of a disaster, the parent station would coordinate the other visiting-nurse stations in order to provide an integrated response.

We interviewed a visiting-nurse station in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, about disaster preparedness and mutual support networks. This station had appointed someone to be responsible for disaster response, and they were in the process of creating disaster manuals and other materials. They were also preparing to disseminate their work to other visiting-nurse stations in the future.

We interviewed visiting-nurse stations in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, about disaster preparedness and mutual support networks. Each of the visiting nurse stations was already prepared for potential flood disasters. They had prepared a course of action for existing networks covering infants and patients with chronic diseases to take in case of an emergency.

We interviewed a visiting-nurse station in Matsuyama, Aichi prefecture, about disaster preparedness and mutual support networks.
Based on previous disaster experiences, the station was building a system that would enable them to check the safety of clients. They had also arranged for suitable equipment to transport clients with significant medical needs to their homes.

We interviewed a visiting nurse station in Koutou ward, Toyko, about disaster preparedness and mutual support networks.

The station had created a manual envisaging a variety of emergency situations, and was undertaking preparations for potential disasters. They also held a meeting once a month, at which visiting-nurse stations in Koutou ward exchanged information.

We interviewed a visiting-nurse station in Saga, Saga prefecture, about disaster preparedness and mutual support networks at visiting-nurse stations.　 Saga Prefecture has prepared a disaster manual and created a “disaster notebook for patients” which is now in use.

We interviewed visiting-nurse stations in Hiroshima Prefecture about flooding. In Hiroshima, visiting-nurse stations have taken measures to prepare for the flooding that has been envisioned in the case of a typhoon disaster.

We interviewed home-based medical care patients and visiting-nurse stations in the Hanshin area about earthquakes. Patients receiving home-based medical care are prepared not only for disasters, but personal medical emergencies as well.

We presented a poster at the 9th International Congress on Nursing Informatics, which was held in Seoul, South Korea. There were few presentations on disaster relief systems, and our pamphlets went rapidly.
Title: “Development of web-based nursing care quality improvement systems in Japan”

We presented a poster at the 9th International EAFONS（East Asian Forum of Nursing Scholars）Conference, held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Professor Uchinuno presented the keynote address at the “Training Session for Professional Cancer Nursing”, hosted by the Shizuoka Health and Welfare Department's Shizuoka Prefectural Shizuoka Cancer Center.

We presented a poster at the combined 10th Conference of the Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine and 18th Conference of the Japan Psycho-Oncology Society, held in Yokohama. 
Title: “Study of cancer nursing needs in a disaster”

・Uchinuno, A.(2006). Oncology nursing in times of disaster. Report on the seminar of Oncology Nursing (pp2-17). Shizuoka Prefecture: Sizuoka Cancer Center Health and Welfare.

1. Arao, H., Uchinuno, A., Kawasaki, Y., Kobayashi, T., Makino, S., Numata, Y., Sakashita, R.: Hospital systems for continued treatment of cancer patients in times of disaster in Japan (Poster Presentation), The 9th East Asian Forum of Nursing Scholars (EAFONS), March 2006 (Bangkok, Thailand)
2. Kawasaki, Y., Uchinuno, A., Arao, H., Otsuka, N., Numata, Y., Kobayashi, T., Makino, S., Sakashita, R.: "Study of cancer nursing needs in a disaster" combined 10th Conference of the Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine and 18th conference of the Japan Psycho-Oncology Society, July 2005 (Yokohama)