NCCAOM Recertifiation

27 May 2015, 22:46

About a month ago, I submitted a recertification application for NCCAOM diplomate of oriental medicine.

In order to be recertified, I had to earn 60 PDAs (Professional Development Activity) during the past four years. Thankfully, I received a new diplomate wallet card and wall certificate this week.

Here's the website of NCCAOM about Diplomate of O.M.

http://www.nccaom.org/consumers/oriental-medicine-certification

Patient Care Review

Recently, I do a little calculation and review the patients I've treated for the past three years.

There were 2,391 person-time visits in 2014. 
There were 2,291 person-time visits in 2015.
There were 3,220 person-time visits in 2016.

Approximately 1/3 of them took only Chinese herbal medicine, 1/3 came for acupuncture (manipulation, cupping, moxibustion) and 1/3 received both acupuncture and herbal medicine. Below are the main discomfort they came for help, you’ll know better about the situation when Taiwanese turn to TCM for help.

The most frequent chief complaints are: common cold, cough, allergic rhinitis, GI disorder (constipation, diarrhea, GERD, stomachache, abdominal distension), asthma, chest pain/tightness, female infertility, menstrual disorder, dysmenorrhea, acne, insomnia, neck stiffness, back pain, low back pain, sciatica, joint pain, muscle soreness, trigger finger, bad breath, carpal tunnel syndrome, patella femoral syndrome, DeQuervain’s syndrome, stroke (stable), facial palsy, headache, dizziness, cold limbs, fatigue, pruritus, DM, HTN, sjogren's' syndrome, anemia, etc. 

Other less frequent chief complaints are: gray hair, MDD, herpes zoster, to lose weight, to increase height (teenagers), lack of breast milk, breast enlargement,early ejaculation, foamy urine, cancer adjuvant therapy.

I feel blessed, grateful and proud to be a TCM doctor since I love to solve all kinds of physical and mental problems for patients. The most important thing is, I believe patients are the best teachers and I did learn a lot from them. I am in my early thirties and I'll keep learning more and more, refining my medical expertise as well as the way communicating with patients and their family. This is indeed the best job in the world!

Traditional Chinese Medical Department in the Tri-Service General Hospital

The Traditional Chinese Medical Department in the Tri-Service General Hospital was established in October 2001, and it has been providing comprehensive medical services to the public ever since. The department is dedicated to the research and education of integrative medicine and medical services, combining both the benefits of Chinese and Western practices. Doctors in the Department have all graduated from the school of Chinese Medicine at the China Medical University, Taiwan and also obtain either a Master, or a Doctoral Degree of medicine. Within this Department, outpatient services include internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, acupuncture clinics, and traumatological treatment. In addition, the Department also provides inpatient medical consultation and treatment services. Furthermore, as early as August 2005, aside from providing ground or concentrated Chinese herb powders, the Department also began offering unprocessed, whole herbs as alternatives and on-demand herb boiling services to meet the medical needs of critically ill patients.

三軍總醫院中醫部於2001年10月成立，提供民眾整體化之醫療服務，並致力於中西醫整合之研究與教育，本部醫師均畢業於中國醫藥大學中醫學系，並取得醫學碩士、博士學位。門診包括內科、婦科、小兒科及針灸、傷科治療，並提供住院患者中醫會診醫療服務，在中藥方便，除了提供科學中藥外，於2005年8月增加生藥材及代煎中藥之服務，以提供重症患者用藥需求。

Herbal Medicine Supplier in Taiwan

According to an analysis in 2010, there are 30 companies that produce Chinese medicine powders in Taiwan. However, NHI database shows that more than 80% of the powders came from five companies：順天堂、港香蘭、勝昌、科達、莊松榮

In Tri-service General Hospital, we use TCM powder provided by 順天堂 (Sun-ten) for the past 10 years. We change to 港香蘭 (Kaiser) since July 2015 because the contract expired.

Here's the website of Kaiser pharmaceutical company:

http://www.kpc.com

Take a look at this video from Kaiser  for the introduction of Kaiser Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V85XOyvm80

Here's the website of Sun-ten pharmaceutical company:
http://www.suntenglobal.com/news/show.php?ID=645

Take a look at this video from Discovery Channel about the production of herbal powder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QciuyQNXlN8

My Alma Mater -- China Medical University, Taichung, TAIWAN

This is the English website of my alma mater. 

http://chmed.cmu.edu.tw/english/index.html