Checkup

One of the things they mentioned in my rather brief training was that once a year you’d get a physical exam through your school. Regular check-ups were hardly a thing in Canada, especially since finding a doctor, or general practitioner to take you as a patient was becoming increasingly difficult. Having one through my workplace, while a little unusual, might be nice. 

I got up one morning, getting ready for work like usual, when I got a notification. Today was my health checkup, which I had totally forgotten about. I had been instructed to collect a urine sample the morning of, but I had already used the bathroom once this morning and gone back to sleep. I tried to chug some water as I had breakfast, hoping I could still make it happen. 

The urine sample collection process was a bit different than I expected. Instead of a single plastic container like I used in Canada, I had to unfold a paper square into a makeshift container, collect my pee, then transfer it into a smaller plastic vial. After following the translated instructions as best I could, I packed the sample in my bag and headed to work, hoping I'd done it correctly.

I went to my desk like usual, and sort of hoped someone else would take the initiative and give me further instructions. I was only told that I would have the examination, not where to go on the day, or what exactly it would entail. I stayed at my desk for around an hour, debating what I should do. Eventually I decided to ask another English teacher. I felt bad always bothering them, but given my limited Japanese it was the safest bet. 

They went with me to show me the examination area, and helped me through each step. I was grateful to have them with me, since aside from the doctor, all the instructions were given to me in Japanese. This was probably the most comprehensive physical exam I’ve had in a long time. Physicals are rarely done back home in Canada, even though I believe they’re supposed to be done every 3 years or so. 

While I do think the Canadian medical system has its merits, I've become largely disillusioned over the years. Since my childhood doctor retired, I've struggled to find consistent care. Instead of a family doctor, I relied on walk-in clinics, facing long wait times just to renew prescriptions. This first-come, first-served system felt unpleasant and made preventative health measures nearly non-existent.

The responsibility for health seemed largely shifted onto the individual. Especially with non-critical issues, the process was often slow and lacking updates. I never really felt taken care of by the Canadian medical system and had to become my own health advocate. So, to experience a preventative health check-up during my workday in Japan caught me off guard.

Alongside another English teacher, I went to the first floor of our school, and found a room set up with different stations and medical staff. At the first desk I showed them a form I had filled out prior, a quick health questionnaire asking about existing health conditions and habits. My next stop was a white bus outside the school. 

I walked there with the other teacher, took off my shoes, was given instructions I didn’t quite catch, and entered a changing area. I started unbuttoning my shirt, but then poked my head out and tried to get a bit of clarification. I basically tried to ask if I just took off my shirt, they told me to put it in a bin, so I took that as a yes. 

Once I took off my shirt, I was directed to stand in front of a plastic square with a chin rest. By this point I had mostly gathered that it was a chest x-ray. Or at least that’s what I think it was. I pressed my chest against the plastic square and put my chin on the chin rest. The staff member poked my knees to get me to bend them and adjusted my arms, before giving the all clear. I put my shirt back on, exited the bus, and rejoined the other English teacher. 

We returned to the room with the various stations, and began a gauntlet of mini health checks. First was height and weight, which was straightforward enough. I even managed to catch a few jokes about the staff worried the height measuring scale (called a Stadiometer apparently) wouldn’t be tall enough. They quickly had me double check my height and weight to see if those seemed correct. 

They consistently use the metric system in Japan (unlike the weird mix of imperial and metric we use in Canada), so my height and weight in kg and cm always take me a bit to mentally convert. I’ve definitely lost some weight since moving to Japan, so while it seemed a little low, my weight was probably correct. My height also seemed a little low, but I really wouldn’t mind if I was an inch shorter than I thought I was.

Next up was a hearing test, something I’m not sure if I’ve ever really done. The other English teacher translated the instructions. I was to put on a pair of headphones, press the button when I heard a sound, and release it once I couldn’t hear it anymore. I expected the sounds to be louder, but instead it seemed like distant beeps alternating between my right and left ear. 

After pressing and releasing the button a few times, they told me the test was over. I have no clue how hearing is measured, but to my knowledge I don’t have any hearing issues, so I imagine my test reflected that. 

Next up was a vision test. I had to take this when I was getting my Japanese drivers license, so I was vaguely familiar with it. I left my glasses on, peered into a machine, and was shown a series of images. The staff member told me a number, and wanted me to point to which direction there was an opening in a C like shape. 

After doing a few with my glasses on, I took my glasses off and did a few more. Unsurprisingly, these were far more difficult, and I had to squint to try and see which direction the small opening was facing. I’m not sure how this stacks up against the eye exams back home, but it was just sort of novel to have it as part of a physical exam. Eye exams and vision care are basically a separate medical system in Canada. 

They took my blood pressure quickly, before moving onto blood tests. Thankfully I’m not squeamish around needles, so it didn’t really faze me much. My mom isn’t great with needles, so she tried hard to make sure my sister and I never developed an aversion to them. They took about two vials and directed me to the next room over. 

Unless I was mistaken, this was the school’s nurses office, not that I had ever been here before. They had me lift my shirt, and seemed to measure the circumference of my stomach. I was then instructed to lie down on my back, and lift up my shirt. They attached a series of clasps attached to wires to my ankles, wrists, chest, and stomach. This was the part where I really felt like a guinea pig. 

I’m not sure what they were checking for, and the English teacher asked me to try and relax as best I could. I took a few deep breaths, doing my best to oblige. After a bit they started taking the various apparatuses off me. Finally, it was time to see the doctor.

He spoke a bit of English, so he asked me if I had any conditions or was taking any medication. Then he had me lift my shirt and take a few deep breaths. I had a bit of a cold, and was fighting off some congestion, which might be why he repeated this instruction a few times. Eventually he seemed satisfied, and with that my medical gauntlet was completed. 

I thanked the English teacher for all their help. I only understood maybe half the instructions, and this process would have been far more difficult without them. It was novel having a comprehensive health checkup, even more so since it was part of my workday. This does mean my workplace will have access to my health information, which I’m a little unsure about. 

On the one hand that information does feel private, but on the other I spend a lot of time at work, and if I do have any health conditions it makes sense for them to be aware of it. It makes you feel that your workplace has a bit more of a role in keeping you healthy, which does bring a certain sense of security. 

Assuming nothing comes from this, which hopefully nothing does, it's always nice to know you’re generally healthy. Canada rarely does preventative health care, unless you request it, and more likely convince your doctor it’s necessary. So having it freely given, and done as part of your workplace felt pretty novel. 

While I’m sure overall the health system in Canada vs Japan has its pros and cons, this is one area I think Canada should follow Japan’s example. Though, since it’s up to each company to provide the exam, I would imagine most Canadian companies opting out. Either way, it was a nice change of pace during my slow summer days, and it gave me peace of mind about my health.