title: [Using electronic medical records to identify outpatients receiving opioids who may benefit from intervention by our palliative care team].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To achieve optimal management of cancer pain in our outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cancer patients in our outpatient department who received opioids.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pharmacist and a nurse of the palliative care team used electronic medical records(EMRs)to review cases of outpatients who received opioids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 136 cases were followed-up by our palliative care team based on EMRs from May 2010 to January 2011. Our palliative care team intervened in 50 of these cases (36.8%). Doctors and nurses were given questionnaires to assess the usefulness of this practice, and 60% of the doctors and 65.2% of the nurses, had useful rounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this trial, we conclude that the use of EMRs to identify patients for intervention by our palliative care team is beneficial to our medical care system, which improves the quality of life of our patients.
authors.affiliation: Japan Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers, Kinki Central Hospital Palliative Care Team.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid