Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital
The Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital was established in 1974, starting from its planning in February of the same year, up to October when the school was officially founded with the German School of Arts and Sciences established in a temporary university building in Moriyama, Shiga.
In 1975, the Departments of Anatomy I, Physiology I, Biochemistry I, Pathology I and Microbiology were established, after which the Departments of Internal Medicine I, Pediatrics, and Surgery I followed suit. The University eventually added Philosophy, Sociology, Human Geography Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, English, and Health and Physical Education to its School of Arts and Sciences.
By April 10, 1975, the first entrance ceremony took place. A month later, the Otsu Red Cross Hospital was chosen to be the university’s affiliate teaching hospital. Six months later, the first requiem service was held for body donors. Almost a year later, several Departments were established: the Departments of Internal Medicine II, Surgery II, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anatomy II, Pharmacology, Health Administration Science and Experimental Radiology. Psychology was later added to the School of Arts and Sciences together with the plan to put up the University Hospital.
By August of 1976, the school transferred to its present location in Seta, Otsu City. On October 1, 1978, the school opened their hospital with 320 beds, three days later their clinical services started. One year later, the Departments of Biochemistry II and Neurosurgery were established, and before the year ended, the Anatomy Center was established.
In the 80s, the school added 280 beds and completed the High Energy Therapy Laboratory. The school has also established the Institute of Experimental Animals while the Experimental Animals Center was abolished. In the mid 80s, the Medical Information Center and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery were established.
At the beginning of the 90s, the Health Administration Center and the Division of Emergency and Critical Medicine were founded, followed by the Intensive Care Unit. The Department of Health Administration was eventually renamed Department of Health Science.
In the 21st century, several centers and departments were likewise established: the Research Center for Animal Science, Biomedical MR Science Center and Lifestyle Related Disease Prevention Center, and Clinical Engineering, to name a few. In April 2007, the Cancer Center was founded and two months later the Pain Management Clinic.
By September of the same year, donations poured in for the establishment of the Department of Community Perinatal Medical Systems. In 2009, the Shiga Cancer Treatment Project was established, followed by the Medical Oncology and then the Clinical Nursing Education Center.
In 2010, the University’s hospital established their midwife clinic, and during this time, the school had a total of 614 beds. The school has continually enhanced their facilities and has even set up various centers that cater to the needs of their students and will equip them with advanced technology.
One of their research projects is in the field of robotics. In collaboration with the Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital, researchers at Matsushita Electric Works have developed an autonomous robot which will be used in hospitals for delivery. It will function as a carrier for medical charts, records and other medical documents like X-ray films. The robot accepts documents inserted to its box while a staff member selects the location or clinic the robot should give the record to.
The robot, which stands 1.4 meter tall and weighs 120 kilograms, will then proceed to deliver the package and adeptly determine the location of its destination. Thanks to preprogrammed geographical data this task is possible to comply.
When the package arrives at its destination, a PIN system or fingerprint will open the box, ensuring that the documents will arrive to the rightful owner. With 19 sensors equipping this robot, it can avoid any obstacles that may lie in its path, and can even move aside when it senses that a moving stretcher is approaching.
