Sasaki Clinic

Clinic Director

Koichi Sasaki

koichi sasaki
Medical care is about challenging "stereotypes"

There is a specific question that I frequently ask when I instruct nurses and laboratory technicians. "Would you entrust a family member to this clinic?" It is a good way to reflect on if each patient is being treated carefully, and if they are performing their work correctly. I myself will not only refine my medical expertise and skills but also ask myself this question, and strive to create a good clinic.

Year of Birth
1977
Birthplace
Osaka
Name
Sasaki Clinic
Headquarters
4-6-27 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka
Founded
1991
Type of business
Nephrologist / Dialysis specialist
url
http://sasaki-cl.info/
Sasaki clinic is a clinic specializing in nephorology and dialysis.
It is said that there are more than 13 million patients with chronic renal failure and about 300,000 who need dialysis in Japan, and these numbers are increasing due to the aging population. However, the reality is that there is a dire shortage of nephrologists.
When I was working as a nephrologist at a hospital, there were many cases of people who didn't require dialysis but were receiving dialysis treatment, and those who absolutely required one but were not receiving treatment. I strongly felt the necessity of a community-based clinic where people could receive professional medical treatment of kidney diseases, and it became a reason for me to inherit my father's - who was also a nephrologist clinic.

The basic policy of our clinic is "do not do unnecessary treatment." We draw up efficient treatment plans by correctly identifying the time to start dialysis, and adjusting the frequency of dialysis depending on the patient's condition, such as reducing the regular three-times-per-week frequency to twice a week. Our plan can also be referred to as a second opinion for those who require dialysis at other hospitals. In addition, we have a system for ultrasonographies and blood tests, and we are working diligently to find complications such as infectious diseases and heart failure early, and to deal with it promptly and accordingly.

What we especially value is improvement of QOL (quality of life) of dialysis patients. There seems to be a negative image that a good life cannot be lived once dialysis begins, and there are people who become despaired when learning that they require dialysis. It is an important value for our clinic to listen to our patients' desires and to draw up a plan, so that they can maintain the same quality of life as before beginning the dialysis treatment.
For example, our overnight dialysis that we provide. Especially for business people, whether treatment can be done in the evening or not greatly influences their lives and relationship with their disease. However, despite the great demand of such a service, there are very few places even in major cities that provide this overnight dialysis, partly due to cost burdens that it may bring. There are even fewer cases where a kidney specialist who conducts academic research provides this service.

It is a given to adequately perform medical treatment, and it is our great mission to set up an environment where patients can continue their treatment without difficulty. In addition, we are implementing various measures to provide comfortable treatments such as the introduction of a skin cooling device that reduces the pain of dialysis treatment, dietary instruction by a nutritionist, provision of meals during treatment, a pick-up service, etc. Regarding overnight dialysis, we are conducting various activities to educate physicians, including speaking via medias about the necessity of dialysis.

I think that what is necessary for improving the quality of medical care is to not be bound by "stereotypes". That a "dialysis patient cannot live a satisfying life" is one of those stereotypes. By thinking "whether it is true or not", new values will be born.
The development of medicine is essentially a history of diseases that were once incurable becoming curable, and stereotypes becoming dismissed one by one. Even with kidney diseases, some medicines currently being prescribed were once considered medicines that could not be given to patients with kidney problems. Even in cases where dialysis can be performed twice a week or dialysis to the elderly becomes possible, new research is being accumulated and knowledge continues to be updated.

Also, even with patients who are examined and diagnosed at other hospitals, it is not uncommon for serious problems to be overlooked until they are examined again. Even with patients who go to a certain hospital for a long time, the condition of the body changes day by day, so important issues may be overlooked if you do not look at the patients as if you are seeing them for the first time. I always warn myself as a doctor to not be held down by stereotypes, and I always tell my nurses and staff to not stick to routines, face patients with care and integrity, and to notice changes in their physical condition and demands case by case.
We will continue to catch up with the latest research as a specialist and continue to make various improvements so that we can provide better medical services throughout our clinic. The pursuit of ideal medical care is one that never ends.

koichi sasaki
koichi sasaki

*Information accurate as of time of publication.

Sasaki Clinic

Clinic Director
Koichi Sasaki