AbstractObjectivesIntegrated care began as a response to the growing ageing population. The main professionals in charge of medical care are doctors and Korean medicine doctors. However, interprofessional collaboration has been scarcely explored.
MethodsA collaborative care flowchart tailored for primary care settings was developed through expert consultations with medical staff from an A Medical Home Care Center and a B Korean Medicine Home Care Center. After pilot implementation of the flowchart, electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients receiving care were retrospectively collected and analyzed from May to December 2024.
ResultsThe primary function of Korean medicine doctors was to manage pain, and they collaborated with medical professionals to prescribe medication and diagnose patients. Moreover, while the subjects expressed satisfaction with the collaborative care process, they expressed dissatisfaction regarding the infrequency of visits. Although the pilot implementation of the collaborative care model was successful, a critical limitation was the lack of systemic support.
ConclusionsThis study is significant as it represents the first attempt to develop a primary care-based collaborative care flowchart, and it can be utilized as fundamental data in future research. In the future, it will be important to identify the comprehensive role of Korean medicine doctors and to continue discussions with other professionals and policymakers. To expand and institutionalize collaborative care, policy-level support and dedicated legal frameworks are needed.
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