Kids Doctor's 24-hour chat health consultation service introduced in Ishigaki City saw usage increase approximately 6-fold within 3 months of launch. Stronger cooperation with local governments and public funding have expanded the system for responding immediately to parents' concerns late at night and on holidays.
The 24-hour, 365-day chat health consultation service introduced through cooperation between Ishigaki City and North Star recorded usage approximately 6 times higher during the first 3 months than before implementation. The system has been strengthened to convey users' needs to medical professionals late at night, in the early morning and on holidays, supporting parents' decision-making.
Ishigaki City has promoted initial response and appropriate medical consultation through the use of public-sector and private-sector technology, with the aim of easing the burden on paediatric emergency outpatient services. The initiatives to date have reportedly reduced consultations by patients with mild symptoms, among other effects.
In response to requests from Ishigaki residents, public funding has now been secured. The city is calling for further efforts to strengthen cooperation among local authorities and healthcare providers. Kids Doctor provides online medical consultations and chat health consultations with nurses, with the aim of expanding medical infrastructure.
Information has been published for local authorities and healthcare providers on how to make inquiries, along with an overview of the service, consultation hours and the number of free consultations. The information is intended to promote wider use of the service and strengthen the community's foundation of reassurance.