The times given in the conference program correspond to Japan Standard Time (JST).
Enhancing organizational health literacy by establishing a sense of our shared humanity
University of California San Francisco (UCSF)San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
Dean-David Schillinger is a primary care physician, scientist, author, and public health leader. He is an internationally recognized expert in health communication and is highly regarded for his work improving the health of marginalized populations. He is credited with a number of discoveries in primary care and health communication and is considered a pioneer in the field of health literacy.
He is the inaugural holder of the Andrew B. Bindman Professorship in Primary Care and Health Policy at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Schillinger has served as chief of the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine at San Francisco General Hospital, and chief of the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program for the California Department of Public Health.
He co-founded the UCSF Action Research Center for Health Equity, a leading research center committed to addressing the social, environmental and commercial determinants of health through research, education, policy, and practice.
He currently directs the UCSF Health Communications Research Program. He is the author of an acclaimed new book, Telltale Hearts: A Public Health Doctor, His Patients and the Power of Story.
Prior efforts to implement heath literate health care organizations have tended to focus on ensuring accurate and equitable patient and caregiver comprehension of their disease processes, disease trajectory, treatment plans, self-management expectations, and follow-up plans. Such efforts, while conceptually central to the construct of health literacy, have overlooked a key component to patient and caregiver engagement in these processes: enhancing trust.
In this presentation, I will make the case that enhancing trust between clinician and patient/caregiver requires establishing a sense of our shared humanity. I will provide examples of evidence-based and efficient strategies that clinicians can use to enter into more narrative-focused conversations with their patients/caregivers so as to enhance the relational aspects of care so as to develop the kind of therapeutic alliance that will foster levels of patient and caregiver engagement that health literate healthcare organizations aim to accomplish. I will amplify my points with real patient stories.
Good practice from Japan for improving health equity for patients
Fukuoka Iryo Dan - Chidoribashi General HospitalKyushu Institute for Social MedicineJapan HPH Network
Mitsuhiko Funakoshi serves as the Chairman of the Fukuoka Iryo Dan - Chidoribashi General Hospital and is the Director of the Kyushu Institute for Social Medicine. He specializes in occupational medicine and social medicine, and also practices clinical internal medicine. He has played a central role as the Coordinator of the Japan HPH Network, from its establishment in 2015, to the successful bid for hosting the current International HPH Conference.
His areas of interest include addressing health disparities and creating healthier work environments. Health disparities have also become a significant issue in Japan, with an increasing number of patients unable to continue necessary medical treatment due to economic hardship. Therefore, he is developing tools to assess patients' social determinants of health (SDH) in clinical settings and provide support utilizing social resources. He is also involved in promoting 'No Lifting' practices as part of back pain prevention for nurses and caregivers, and advocates for reducing working hours to prevent overwork-related deaths (Karoshi) in collaboration with labor unions.
Funakoshi, Mitsuhiko
The Japan HPH Network (J-HPH) was established in 2015 with the aim of improving health standards of all people in Japan and contributing to a fair society. In Japan, health disparities are widening and the isolation of the elderly in this super-aging society have become significant issues. Here, I introduce our experiences in addressing these challenges.
J-HPH developed an "Economic Support Tool(Poverty Intervention Tool)" to assist economically distressed patients. This tool includes simple questions to understand their economic situation and indicates the available social resources. An online version is utilized in patient support at medical sites and in the education of medical students. Moreover, J-HPH holds seminars twice a year to promote equitable medical and nursing care through the exchange of good practices from member institutions, as outlined below.
As an example of member activities, I introduce Chidoribashi General Hospital. Located in a low-income area, this hospital protects patients' rights to receive medical care by reducing the financial burden through the Free and Low-Cost Medical Care Project. Among elderly people living alone who have interrupted regular visits, there are more than a few cases of solitary death or worsening chronic diseases. To prevent such cases, staff regularly conduct outreach activities by visiting patients' homes. Additionally, the hospital quantitatively monitors the implementation of equitable medical care. All inpatients are interviewed about their economic situation and whether they are isolated, and for necessary cases, social workers provide consultations and promote the use of social resources. The hospital measures the evaluation and support rates of patients' economic status and living status to clarify their attainment of equitable medical care.
Furthermore, efforts are being made to address health disparities among minorities such as foreign residents and LGBTQ individuals, as well as health damages caused by the climate crisis.
Natural disasters significantly impact the health of vulnerable people, making them an important issue from the perspective of health disparities. For example, since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, Jouhoku Hospital in Kanazawa City has been continuing its earnest support for disaster victims.
Social Prescribing: A Strategy for Health Promoting Hospitals
SingHealth Community HospitalsDukeNUS Medical School
A/Prof Kheng Hock Lee is an opinion leader in the field of social prescribing in Singapore and the region. He practices as a family physician at the Singapore General hospital managing patients with complex health and social care needs.
As Deputy CEO (Education and Community Partnerships) at SingHealth Community Hospitals, he oversees clinician training and community partnerships in health and social care integration.
He teaches family medicine at DukeNUS Medical School and held leadership roles in many professional bodies including the President of the College of Family Physicians and Assistant Master of the Academy of Medicine Singapore. In recognition of his contributions to education and patient care, he had received multiple national and international awards.
LEE, Kheng Hock
The implementation of social prescribing in Singapore can serve as an exemplar of the principles of health promoting hospitals. The SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) in Singapore adhere to the health promotion ethos by focusing on empowering patients, supporting staff well-being, and engaging the broader community. SCH offers educational programs, comprehensive care, and community outreach to address social determinants of health. SCH is the first hospital in the world to implement a structured social prescribing into its model of care. In this social prescribing program, patients are screened for the social determinants of health to co-develop and initiate a social prescription to complement the medical prescription during the hospital stay. On discharge, patients are connected to community partners to continue the social prescribing plan to tackle issues like social isolation and lack of access to support services. This patient-centric approach empowers individuals to take an active role in their health and well-being. Crucially, the success of social prescribing hinges on strong partnerships between healthcare providers and community organizations, ensuring culturally appropriate resource referrals.
The implementation process itself mirrored the values of health promoting hospitals. The team prioritized understanding local needs, engaging diverse stakeholders, and committing to continuous program evaluation and improvement. This contextualized, collaborative, and iterative approach reflects the core principles of health promoting hospitals. Singapore's experience demonstrates how social prescribing can be a powerful tool for health promoting hospitals. By addressing social determinants, empowering patients, and fostering community partnerships, social prescribing embodies the ethos of this public health-oriented model of healthcare. As healthcare systems worldwide seek innovative ways to improve population health, Singapore's pioneering work offers valuable insights and inspiration.