Recently, the palliative care team (PCT) at our hospital has included dentists. Among a total of 127 cancer patientsand required PCT intervention from 2009 to 2014, 17 patients (13.3%) had oral symptoms. Therefore, the PCT held discussions in order to determine the optimal way to treat each patient. Various symptoms, including oral pain, dry mouth, taste disturbance, furred tongue, excessive amounts of saliva, appetite loss, and trismus were treated by the dentists. As a result, the oral findings improved in all patients, while the oral symptoms improved in 16 of the 17 patients (94%). Thanks to the fact that dentists have joined the PCT, oral symptoms are effectively relieved, and PCT members now have an increased interest in oral cavity complications. Furthermore, conducting thorough examinations of the oral cavity by the PCT not only results in an improved QOL, but it has also increased the interest in the oral cavity on the part of the PCT. Therefore, more effective palliative care is expected to be achieved by promoting increased cooperation with more clinical departments.

Objective: To investigate the differences between doctor helicopters (DHs) and disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs), based on past examples and the current situation in Shizuoka Prefecture.Materials and Methods: First, we examined cases in Shizuoka Prefecture from 2014 to 2023, wherein incidents involving five or more injured individuals were managed using multiple DHs simultaneously. Next, we investigated the presence of DMATs in Shizuoka Prefecture and assessed their role in disaster responses within the prefecture.Results: Since 2014, there have been eight incidents in Shizuoka Prefecture wherein multiple DHs were deployed to respond to mass casualties. Shizuoka DMATs were placed on standby thrice during the same period, with one active deployment during a disaster caused by a landslide in Atami. The other two cases were managed solely by DHs and ambulance teams.Conclusion: Localized disasters in Shizuoka Prefecture have seen the effective use of multiple DHs for timely patient transportation, particularly when weather conditions were suitable. By contrast, DMATs are primarily deployed for extended medical activities lasting more than one day. This differentiation highlights the importance of choosing an appropriate medical response approach based on the nature and scope of a disaster.