第13回：想定する

我々にとって記念すべき年度が始まった。昨年５月に南平岸で着工となった“札幌柏葉会（はくようかい）病院”は10月30日の竣工を目指して順調に工事が進んでいる。11月下旬から12月初旬の移転を目指しているが、引っ越し当日に雪が降らないことを祈っている。札幌柏葉会病院開院の日にもう一つの病院“脳神経内科かしわば病院”も福住に開院する。社会医療法人柏葉会は昨年の7月に白石中央病院を吸収して法人全体で217床のベッドを保有した。このうち167床を札幌柏葉会病院へ、50床を脳神経内科かしわば病院へ振り分けるのが今回のスキームとなる。脳神経内科かしわば病院は増加の一途をたどるパーキンソン病や認知症に最新の治療を提供することを目的としている。神経内科領域では最近新薬の開発が盛んであり、北海道大学の脳神経内科教室と連携を取りながら地域の患者さんに貢献したいと思っている。物価は上昇し、職員のベアを求められるこの時期に２つの病院を開院させるなんて正気とは思えない、との声も聞こえてくる。確かにその通りだ。正気では何十億もの借り入れなどとても出来ない。しかし今の柏葉脳神経外科病院は一番新しい部分（職員は新館と呼んでいる）でもすでに36年が経過している。北海道の夏も年々暑くなり、エアコンが装備されていない病院でこれ以上診療を続けることは患者さんにも職員にも過酷すぎる。経営者として一番恐れていたことは入院環境の悪さから患者さんが離れていく、労働環境の悪さから職員が離れていくということであった。私の中での最悪はこのままの状態であと5年我慢するも、診療実績は右肩下がりとなり、常に人材紹介会社を通して職員を募集しているというシナリオであった。2病院の開院で私の中での最悪のシナリオは回避できたと思っている。

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　最後に先月19日に私の恩師である福島孝徳先生の逝去が米国Duke大学から発表された。先生には昨年の6月に連絡する用事があり、その時にセミリタイアしたとお聞きした。療養をされていたとは露ほど知らなかった。札幌柏葉会病院が開院した折にはお呼びしようと考えていただけにショックが大きかった。最悪のシナリオを想定することは得意としていたのになぜか福島先生だけはいつまでも元気でいるような気がしていた。私の脳外科医の基礎を作ってくれた先生であり感謝してもしきれない。次回の院長ブログで追悼文を書かせていただきたい。

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Director's blog
Episode 13: Presume

A memorable year has begun for us.
Sapporo Hakuyokai Hospital, which began construction in Minami-hiragishi last May, is on track to be completed by October 30th. We're aiming to move in late November to early December, and we're hoping it won't snow on the day of the move.
On the same day that Sapporo Hakuyokai Hospital opens, Kashiwaba Neurology Hospital will also open in Fukuzumi.
Hakuyokai Social Medical Corporation merged with Shiroishi Central Hospital in July last year, increasing the number of beds to 217. The current plan is to allocate 167 of these beds to Sapporo Hakuyokai Hospital and 50 beds to Kashiwaba Neurology Hospital.
Kashiwaba Neurology Hospital aims to provide the latest treatments for Parkinson's disease and dementia, which are increasing in number.
In the field of neurology, the development of new drugs has recently been active, and we would like to collaborate with the Department of Neurology at Hokkaido University to contribute to patients in the region.
Some people are saying that it is insane to open two hospitals at a time when prices are rising and staff are being sought after. That's certainly true. No one in their right mind could borrow billions.
However, even though Kashiwaba Neurosurgical Hospital is the newest building (our staff commonly refer to it as the “new building” ), it has already been 36 years.Summers in Hokkaido are getting hotter every year, and continuing medical treatment in a hospital without air conditioning is harsh for both patients and staff.As a manager, my fear was that patients would avoid our hospital due to the poor hospital environment, and that staff would quit due to the poor working environment. And my biggest fear was that even if I endured the same conditions for another five years, my clinical performance would deteriorate and I would have to constantly recruit through recruitment agencies. By opening these two hospitals, we were able to avoid the worst situation.
As I mentioned in my congratulatory speech at the induction ceremony the other day, I have never had the experience of opening a hospital or working in a new building.I told the new employees that I wanted them to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime big event.
Now, I post the current progress status of Sapporo Hakuyokai Hospital.
Finally, on the 19th of last month, Duke University in the United States announced that my mentor, Professor Takanori Fukushima, has passed away.
I had something to contact him in June of last year, and I heard that he had semi-retired at that time. Little did I know that he was undergoing medical treatment.
It was a big shock as I had planned to invite him when Sapporo Hakuyokai Hospital opened.
Even though I was good at imagining the worst, for some reason I felt like Dr. Fukushima was the only one who would stay healthy forever. He was an irreplaceable doctor who taught me the basics of being a neurosurgeon, and I cannot thank him enough.
I would like to write a memorial message on the next blog.