Use of large-scale surgery database grows in Japan

Tokyo

PROGRESS is being made in using a large-scale database of nearly all surgical procedures performed in Japan. The aim is to more accurately understand data, such as national average mortality rates, and analyse trends in surgical outcomes based on factors such as hospital size. The database is expected to play an important role in improving the quality of medical care at individual hospitals, as well as help patients to select hospitals.

Data on surgeries performed throughout the country are recorded in the National Clinical Database, operated by the Japan Surgical Society and other academic entities. Individual doctors register data on surgical procedures performed to treat illnesses such as heart disease and cancer via the internet.