Towards patient-centered healthcare

The time has come for patients to choose the therapy that better suits their needs. The spread of home healthcare will provide a great option for patients.

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease undergo hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis as renal replacement therapy. While hemodialysis requires patients to go to the hospital three times a week for four to five hours each time, peritoneal dialysis can be undergone at home, allowing for a therapy that suits the patient’s lifestyle.

However, home medical care and peritoneal dialysis have not become widespread in Japan. We feel that one of the reasons for this is the “anxiety” experienced by patients and medical professionals. JMS is working to change this anxiety into “relief” by combining VitalLink of Teijin Pharma, patient information sharing system, with our peritoneal dialysis technology. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers can share patient conditions in real time and take appropriate actions by utilizing this system linked home medical care. As a result, we aim to realize a society in which patients can choose peritoneal dialysis without anxiety.

From “selling products” to “selling value”

The goal of promoting peritoneal dialysis is not to sell a lot of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. We believe that it is important to understand “why it is necessary” and “what kind of issues there are,” and to tell what kind of value we can provide to patients and medical professionals. We ensure “relief” by deeply understanding the value of “home healthcare” and “peritoneal dialysis”, working together with medical professionals, and achieving the successes that we experience.

“Eating” difficulty may occur due to aging

It is natural for us to “eat” every day, but our ability to chew and swallow gradually weakens as we age. In particular, as tongue strength (tongue pressure) declines, you may find that food gets stuck in your throat or you may choke more easily.

JMS has been developing products related to dysphagia (eating and swallowing function) based on the business concept of “people eat with their mouths so that they can feel the pleasure of life by enjoying their meals for a long time.” Through these efforts, we have developed “Peco Gina” and “PECOPANDA,” which enable enjoyable tongue pressure training.

Tongue pressure training as if it were an enjoyable game

“Peco Gina” is a device that provides tongue pressure training through an application game in which you crush balloons with your tongue and the clogs fly away.

I was involved in the development of the balloon part (probe) of “Peco Gina.” I considered not only the shape and safety of the product, but also the cost so that many people would be able to use it.

Developed product that is required in the field

There are programs to improve oral functions at classes for preventing long-term care in each municipality, and some municipalities are using “Peco Gina” and “PECOPANDA” for this program.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with people in charge of classes for preventing long-term care and deliver a probe of “Peco Gina” I developed. They said, “It looks easy to use! I’ll use it at my next class right away!” As the person involved in the development of this product, I was very encouraged by their words.

I feel the importance of “delivering products that are truly useful in the medical and nursing care fields, which also leads to the value of JMS,” and I am working on product development with this mindset. If I have the opportunity in the future, I would like to participate in actual classes for preventing long-term care and listen more to the real voices of people who use our products.

JMS’s Closed System Brings to the Forefront of Space Research—

We have developed Closed System Drug Transfer Device (hereafter referred to as “closed system”) to suppport medical professionals in handling anticancer drugs more safely and easily. Anticancer drugs play an important role in cancer therapy but are harmful to healthy people. Our closed system, which uses a closed connection connector for the drug connection, has been adopted by many medical institutions because of its evaluation for preventing drug leakage during connection and disconnection.

This closed system will be used for cell culture in space. JMS successfully won the tender of “Production of Grand Model and Flight Model for Cell Biology Experiment Facility: Quick Connect Disconnect Device (QCD)” through the general competitive bidding held by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and was entrusted this development.

Challenges in a New Field—Required Miniaturization and Weight Reduction

In order to take it to space, it was essential for this project to achieve miniaturization and weight reduction. Accordingly, we were required to review all processes that had been used in the development of the closed system, such as determining requirements, development, evaluation, and transfer to manufacturing, including the evaluation procedures and the management system after the transfer to manufacturing. In response to these changes, consensus-building within in-house was an important process. Since this is an unprecedented project that expands JMS’s technology into the space field, I gradually paved the way for this while repeatedly holding meetings and reporting to the related people. As a result, I succeeded in developing a product that met the required specifications with the cooperation of the related departments.

What I Gained Through This Project—Expansion of Perspective and Growth

This was the first time for me to be involved in all processes, from determining requirements to transferring to manufacturing. In the process, I needed to work together with many departments. At first, I was nervous about the communication, but I gradually got used to it and learned the importance of progressing with my tasks while understanding the different perspectives and priorities of each department. I began to devise presentation materials while thinking about what to explain, where to start, and so on. Through these experiences, I feel that I have gained a deeper understanding not only of development work, but also of how the entire JMS organization works together and how manufacturing is conducted.

Bringing the JMS Brand to the World

Through its overseas expansion, JMS has built a global network not only within the JMS Group but also with local distributors. By expanding this network and working closely together, we are contributing to create an environment where patients can receive safer and higher quality medical care.

Raising the standard of medical care by utilizing the JMS network

I have been engaged in overseas sales activities: from 2015 to 2020 at Hiroshima headquarters, from 2021 to 2023 in Singapore, and currently in Thailand since 2024. I still clearly remember the surprise I saw the difference in medical standards from Japan for myself when I visited local medical institutions on my first overseas business trip.

There are quite a few countries where it is difficult to invest sufficient funds in health care due to differences in economic development. However, with the increasing distribution of information, local distributors and medical institutions are becoming more proactive in incorporating the latest knowledge. How should we propose to raise the standard of medical care with limited funds? It is a difficult issue that requires different approaches in different countries, but I am struggling to solve this issue by cooperating with related parties who are aiming for the same future and making use of the networks that my predecessors have built over decades and that I have pioneered.

Enjoying Every Day at Work and in Private Life

I sometimes have a hard time in countries with different cultures and customs, but I believe it is important to enjoy life there. Now, I live in Thailand and enjoy interacting with the local people, such as learning Muay Thai. “Enjoy everything!” This is my motivation.

Building the future by taking small steps forward.

I am in charge of energy conservation efforts at Miyoshi Plant. I identify the equipment that consumes the most electricity in the manufacturing process and implement measures to run it more efficiently. Since CO2 accounts for 99% of our greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation directly leads to CO2 reduction.

As a medical device manufacturer, our top priority is to build processes that ensure stable quality. However, we cannot postpone addressing environmental issues because of this. I believe that taking small steps forward will lead to a sustainable society.

Broaden my horizons and realize the importance of cooperation.

I joined the Sustainability Promotion Project in 2022 and was involved in identifying material issues that JMS should address for the future and formulating specific action plans to address them. Through this experience, I feel that my perspective has expanded from a plant-by-plant view to a company-wide and even global outlook.

Interdepartmental collaboration is essential to achieve the proposed action plans. For example, to improve the recycling rate, the design, development, and production divisions need to collaborate in selecting recyclable materials from the development stage.

I aim to enhance communication by sharing issues with related divisions, discussing solutions collaboratively, and implementing sustainable production practices.
Accordingly, I place great importance on directly listening to the voices of those working on the manufacturing site. By listening to the voices of workers on the site, I can clarify issues and identify directions for improvement. Moreover, through on-site conversations with workers, I realized that sustainability activities are not something that “someone else does,” but rather initiatives that “we ourselves take ownership of.”

Expanding into a global effort.

I would like to extend these ideas to our activities not only in Japan but also on a global activity. Until now, Miyoshi Plant and other domestic facilities have been at the center of our activities, but I will work to reduce environmental impact in collaboration with overseas group companies from now on.

For instance, I am collaborating with JMS HEALTHCARE PHIL, INC. in the Philippines to support the implementation of infrastructure facilities, and I believe there is potential for cooperation on environmental impact mitigation as well. I would like to strengthen the sustainability activities of JMS Group as a whole by visiting the site and learning about the issues face-on-face.

Taking spontaneous actions creates a sustainable future.

I believe that a sustainable future can be achieved by promoting sustainability activities among all employees and creating an environment that takes spontaneous actions.

There is a limit in what just one plant can do. That is why I need to collaborate across divisions. I continue to take on the challenge of realizing a sustainable society by collaborating across divisions and broadening my perspective.