Abstract
With the facilitating roles of IT, this study is to investigate the safety issues of the acupuncture process in the current practices under EMR support. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in 80 Chinese medicine practice hospitals and clinics in Taiwan. Concerns over patient safety during the acupuncture process were raised, such as an inconsistency between the practice and prescription and a lack of monitoring patient’s condition during the treatment. Confirming the physicians’ prescription and documenting patients’ reaction for patient record management are needed to add to the EMR system for patient safety while performing acupuncture. The results of this study can be used by the government or medical institutes to assess the work flow and set up standards of EMRs design for their acupuncture treatment to ensure patient safety and to enhance healthcare quality.
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Appendix
Appendix
Questionnaire items
Part 1.
How does a physician prescribe an acupuncture treatment?
How is the prescription put into practice?
How is the process of receiving treatment monitored?
Who removes the needles and how he/she does it?
Is there any documentation to record the treatment process and patients’ reaction?
If so, how are these records saved and what is their content?
Is there any protection of patient privacy during an acupuncture treatment?
Part 2.
Institution type? (hospital or clinics)
Hospital level? (medical center/regional hospital/local hospital)
Number of beds?
Number of physicians and nurses?
Is there IT department in your hospital or clinic?
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Li, YC., Hung, MC., Hsiao, SJ. et al. An Assessment of Patient Safety in Acupuncture Process Under EMR Support. J Med Syst 35, 1447–1453 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9421-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9421-3