[Medical cooperation using IT networks--From the medical care experience of a patient with terminal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)].

We have created an IT network with a chat feature and have provided at-home medical care to one ALS patient through hospital-home cooperation. The IT network was operated by staff involved in hospital and at-home medical care, who recorded the details of the medical care they provided in the chat server installed at the University of Fukui Hospital via cellular phones or personal computers. During the 51-day operating period of the network, information was entered 118 times; all staff could browse this information. Hospital staff supported home medical care staff by sending replies to the questions of home staff. This experience suggested that the use of the IT network could increase the level of contribution by neurology specialists in home medical care.