A Proposal for ICT Education for the Training of Paramedics and Medical Technologists in Japan

I have been engaged in information science education for the training of medical technologists at a medical technology college. Up to the present, information science has not always been regarded as an indispensable part of the education of paramedics in Japan. However, along with the recent progress and technological advances in medical test equipment, as well as the promotion of electronic medical recording systems and online receipt of remuneration for medical services as ways of addressing the insufficient number of physicians and their increased workload, the importance of information science and technology, including computer operations, has been growing. In line with this, the recent paramedic licensing examinations have included content related to information science. This paper discusses not only information science education for effective clinical practice, but also the need to use portable information devices.