Patent Publication Number: US-2023154589-A1

Title: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Support Apparatus, Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Support Method, Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Support Program, and Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment Support System

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support apparatus, an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support method, an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support program, and an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system for supporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, an acupuncturist, who is a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion, identifies a symptom based on a primary complaint of a patient, determines a treatment method corresponding to the cause of the symptom, and provides appropriate treatment to alleviate the symptom of the patient. A technology for supporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment has been proposed for making it possible to accurately identify the symptom of a patient. It has been proposed to have an information processing apparatus cause a display unit to display a human figure schematically illustrating a human body with site marks representing sites of the human body in the human figure, and when a site corresponding to a disorder of the patient is selected from the sites, cause the display unit to display a list of disorder patterns related to the selected site. 
     REFERENCE DOCUMENT LIST 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: JP 2019-079515 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     In acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, after identifying the symptom of a patient, an acupuncturist determines a treatment method suitable for the symptom. When determining a treatment method, the acupuncturist selects a procedure to be used in the treatment from a variety of procedures, and also selects a treatment site from many possible sites such as acupuncture points on the human body. Because there are diverse and complex combinations of procedures and treatment sites, highly specialized knowledge and a great deal of experience are necessary to determine a treatment method suitable for each patient. 
     For this reason, an object according to an aspect of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently and accurately determine a treatment method and thereby improve treatment accuracy in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a treatment template, which is selected based on a symptom of a patient among treatment templates in each of which a symptom to be treated by acupuncture and moxibustion treatment is associated with treatment information indicating a treatment site for the symptom and a procedure to be performed at the treatment site, is read and obtained from a storage unit. Then, an electronic medical record of the patient, to which the treatment information included in the obtained treatment template is applied, is generated and stored in the storage unit. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     An aspect of the present invention makes it possible to efficiently and accurately determine a treatment method and thereby improve treatment accuracy in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system (first embodiment); 
         FIG.  2    is a drawing illustrating an example of a process performed by an acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit and a treatment template setting unit; 
         FIG.  3    is a drawing illustrating an example of a settings screen; 
         FIG.  4    is a drawing illustrating an example of an acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen; 
         FIG.  5    is a drawing illustrating an example of an acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen; 
         FIG.  6    is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment template list screen; 
         FIG.  7    is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment template setting screen (skeleton and skin); 
         FIG.  8    is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment template setting screen (muscle); 
         FIG.  9    is a drawing illustrating an example of an acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen; 
         FIG.  10    is a drawing illustrating an example of a process performed by a patient information setting unit, an electronic medical record setting unit, and a preliminary examination sheet setting unit; 
         FIG.  11    is a drawing illustrating an example of a patient list screen; 
         FIG.  12    is a drawing illustrating an example of a patient details screen; 
         FIG.  13    is a drawing illustrating an example of an electronic medical record setting screen; 
         FIG.  14    is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment information setting screen; 
         FIG.  15    is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment template selection screen; 
         FIG.  16    is a drawing illustrating an example of a preliminary examination sheet setting screen; 
         FIG.  17    is a block diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system (second embodiment); 
         FIG.  18    is a drawing illustrating an example of a process performed by a treatment information analysis unit; 
         FIG.  19 A  is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment information analysis screen; 
         FIG.  19 B  is a drawing illustrating an example of a treatment information analysis screen; and 
         FIG.  20    is a drawing illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     1. Overall Configuration 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example of the overall configuration of an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system according to a first embodiment. The acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system includes an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 . 
     The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  is an information processing apparatus used at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic that provides acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  may be implemented by, for example, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone or PDA), or any other type of device. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  is a tablet computer. An acupuncturist (a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion) is assumed to be the primary user of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , and the present embodiment is described based on this assumption. However, the user of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  is not limited to an acupuncturist. 
     The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  includes an acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , a treatment template setting unit  102 , a patient information setting unit  103 , an electronic medical record setting unit  104 , a treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and a preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106 , the functions of which are implemented by executing an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support program on the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 . Also, the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  includes a storage device (storage unit) that includes an acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , a treatment template storage unit  112 , a patient information storage unit  113 , an electronic medical record storage unit  114 , and a preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115 . Furthermore, the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  includes an input-output unit  121 . 
     Below, the major functions of the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , the treatment template setting unit  102 , the patient information setting unit  103 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104 , the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  are described. 
     The acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101  stores, in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , acupuncture and moxibustion information that is entered via a user interface displayed on a screen (touch panel) of a tablet functioning as both an input unit and an output unit and that includes procedures in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment and details of acupuncture and moxibustion products used in the procedures. The acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in advance in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  is used when treatment templates and electronic medical records are entered, as described later. 
     The treatment template setting unit  102  receives, via a user interface, input of a symptom that is the subject of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment and treatment information that includes a treatment site corresponding to the symptom, a procedure performed at the treatment site, and acupuncture and moxibustion information corresponding to the procedure. Then, based on the input information, the treatment template setting unit  102  generates a treatment template in which a treatment template name and the treatment information are associated with each other, and stores the treatment template in the treatment template storage unit  112 . Here, a symptom in the present embodiment indicates information that also includes a site with, for example, pain. In the present embodiment, information indicating a symptom is included in the treatment template name. 
     The patient information setting unit  103  sets, in the patient information storage unit  113 , basic information about a patient that is entered via a user interface and includes, for example, the name, the sex, the age, the occupation, and the contact information of the patient. Normally, the patient information is set when a new patient visits an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic. 
     The electronic medical record setting unit  104  generates an electronic medical record of a patient when acupuncture and moxibustion treatment is provided to the patient, and stores the electronic medical record in the electronic medical record storage unit  114 . An electronic medical record includes, for example, patient information of a patient and a symptom and treatment information of the patient that are entered via a user interface. When generating an electronic medical record, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  may apply, to the electronic medical record, treatment information included in a treatment template obtained by the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , described later. Also, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  may apply, to an electronic medical record, information on a symptom of a patient included in a preliminary examination sheet that is stored in the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  by the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106 , described later. 
     The treatment template acquisition unit  105  displays a list of treatment templates stored in the treatment template storage unit  112  on a screen, and reads and obtains, from the treatment template storage unit  112 , a treatment template that is selected by the acupuncturist from the treatment templates based on a symptom of a patient. 
     The preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  generates, based on information indicating a symptom of a patient before treatment and entered via a user interface, a preliminary examination sheet that includes the information and is unique to the patient, and stores the preliminary examination sheet in the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115 . 
     Next, data stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , the treatment template storage unit  112 , the patient information storage unit  113 , the electronic medical record storage unit  114 , and the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  is described. 
     The acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  stores procedures used in treatment, and acupuncture and moxibustion information. Specifically, the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  stores procedure types (for example, “retaining needle”, “electrification”, “moxa needle”, “press tack needle”, “single needle”, “moxibustion”, etc.) and as an example of acupuncture and moxibustion information, types of acupuncture and moxibustion products, acupuncture needle numbers (indicating thicknesses), lengths of acupuncture needles, and needle insertion angles and depths used in procedures. 
     The treatment template storage unit  112  stores information on treatment templates. For example, a treatment template includes a treatment template name, a treatment site, and a procedure and acupuncture and moxibustion information for the treatment site. Treatment templates stored in the treatment template storage unit  112  may include both treatment templates generated and stored by the treatment template setting unit  102  and treatment templates generated externally in advance and stored by, for example, an operation performed by a system administrator (e.g., treatment templates generated in advance by the system administrator when the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system is provided, and treatment templates newly provided during the operation of the system). 
     In the patient information storage unit  113 , patient information, which is basic information about patients, is stored in advance. The patient information includes, for example, name, sex, age, occupation, and contact information of patients. 
     The electronic medical record storage unit  114  stores information of electronic medical records of individual patients. For example, an electronic medical record includes patient information such as the name of a patient, treatment date, acupuncturist in charge, symptom of the patient, treatment site, and procedure and acupuncture and moxibustion information for the treatment site. 
     The preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  stores information on preliminary examination sheets of individual patients. For example, a preliminary examination sheet includes patient information such as the name of a patient, symptom of the patient before treatment, medical history, and lifestyle. 
     The input-output unit  121  is implemented by, for example, various drivers that function as interfaces for an input device and an output device included in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 . 
     2. Processes Performed by the Program 
     Next, the processes performed by the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , the treatment template setting unit  102 , the patient information setting unit  103 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104 , the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  are described in detail with reference to examples of screens displayed in the processes. Basic functions of the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support program of the present embodiment include a function for making various settings that can be applied to all patients in common and a function for setting and using information such as electronic medical records related to individual patients. 
     2.1. Process Related to the Function of Making Various Settings 
     First, among the above-described basic functions, the function for making various settings applicable to all patients in common is described.  FIG.  2    is a drawing illustrating an example of a process that is related to the function for making various settings and performed by the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101  and the treatment template setting unit  102 , along with screen transitions and access to storage units.  FIG.  3    illustrates a state in which an example of a settings screen  500 , which is one of the basic screens indicating the basic functions described above, is displayed. In each basic screen, a patient information screen link  1001  and a settings screen link  1002  are displayed at the bottom as user interfaces for enabling transitions between basic screens implementing different basic functions. All of the types of user interfaces (for example, links, buttons, text boxes, pull-down menus, etc.) on screens explained in this specification are just examples, and the types of user interfaces are not limited to those used in this specification. 
     The settings screen  500  displays, in addition to the links to the basic screens, an acupuncture and moxibustion information setting button  501  for transitioning to an acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen  510  and a treatment template setting button  502  for transitioning to a treatment template list screen  530 . 
     2.1.1. Acupuncture and Moxibustion Information Setting Process 
     When the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting button  501  is pressed on the settings screen  500  by an operation by the acupuncturist, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101  displays the acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen  510  illustrated in  FIG.  4    (S 11  in  FIG.  2   ). Also, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101  reads acupuncture and moxibustion information from the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  and displays the read information as an acupuncture and moxibustion information list  511  on the acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen  510  (S 12 ). Each row of acupuncture and moxibustion information in the acupuncture and moxibustion information list  511  displays an edit button  512  for updating the corresponding acupuncture and moxibustion information and a delete button  513  for deleting the corresponding acupuncture and moxibustion information. Furthermore, the acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen  510  displays a new registration button  514  for registering new acupuncture and moxibustion information. 
     When the new registration button  514  of the acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen  510  is pressed by the user, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101  displays an acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  as illustrated in  FIG.  5    (S 13 ). For example, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  displays a procedure selection field  521  for selecting a procedure and displays “retaining needle”, “electrification”, “moxa needle”, “press tack needle”, and “single needle” as selectable procedures. Furthermore, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  displays an acupuncture and moxibustion product type  522 , a number (thickness)  523 , a length  524 , and an angle  525  and a depth  526  of needle insertion as input fields for entering acupuncture and moxibustion information corresponding to the selected procedure. The input field of the acupuncture and moxibustion product type  522  is configured such that types corresponding to a procedure selected in the procedure selection field  521  become selectable. For example, when “retaining needle” is selected as a procedure, various types of acupuncture needles become selectable; and when “electrification” is selected, various types of electrification devices become selectable. Similarly, information that can be entered in each of the number (thickness)  523 , the length  524 , the angle  525 , and the depth  526  changes depending on the type of acupuncture and moxibustion product selected in the acupuncture and moxibustion product type  522 . For example, when “retaining needle” is selected as a procedure, information can be entered in all of the input fields including the acupuncture and moxibustion product type  522 , the number (thickness)  523 , the length  524 , the angle  525 , and the depth  526 . In contrast, when “press tack needle” is selected, information can be entered only in the acupuncture and moxibustion product type  522 , the number (thickness)  523 , and the length  524 . Also, for example, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  may be configured such that when “electrification” is selected, types of input fields change to enable entry of, for example, an electrification time. 
     Here, entry of acupuncture and moxibustion information is not essential, and when a treatment site is specified, only a procedure to be performed at the treatment site may be selected. Also, the procedures displayed in the procedure selection field  521  of the present embodiment are just examples, and procedures are not limited to these examples. Similarly, acupuncture and moxibustion information is not limited to the information entered in the fields described above and may include any other types of information. Furthermore, the input fields of acupuncture and moxibustion information described above are just design examples, and all or some of the input fields may be configured, for example, to allow the acupuncturist to manually enter information. 
     The acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  further displays an acupuncture and moxibustion information registration button  527  for registering the procedure and the acupuncture and moxibustion information that are entered. Here, each of the screens including the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  includes a cancellation function to cancel the corresponding process and a function to return to the previous screen. Descriptions and illustration of such functions are omitted in this specification and the drawings. 
     When the acupuncture and moxibustion information registration button  527  is pressed on the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520 , the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101  stores, in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , the procedure selected in the procedure selection field  521  on the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  and the acupuncture and moxibustion information entered in the input fields including the acupuncture and moxibustion product type  522 , the number (thickness)  523 , the length  524 , the angle  525 , and the depth  526  (S 14 ). 
     Although not illustrated in  FIG.  2   , when the edit button  512  is pressed in any row of acupuncture and moxibustion information in the acupuncture and moxibustion information list  511  on the acupuncture and moxibustion information list screen  510 , the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520  is displayed in a state in which the corresponding acupuncture and moxibustion information is entered in the input fields. Then, by changing the entered information on this screen and pressing the acupuncture and moxibustion information registration (change) button  527 , the acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  can be updated as necessary. Also, by pressing the delete button  513  in any row of acupuncture and moxibustion information in the acupuncture and moxibustion information list  511 , the corresponding acupuncture and moxibustion information can be deleted from the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 . 
     2.1.2. Treatment Template Setting Process 
     When the treatment template setting button  502  is pressed on the settings screen  500  by a user operation, the treatment template setting unit  102  displays a treatment template list screen  530  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  6    (S 21  in  FIG.  2   ). In this step, the treatment template setting unit  102  reads treatment templates from the treatment template storage unit  112  and displays the read treatment templates as a treatment template list  531  on the treatment template list screen  530  (S 22 ). Each row of acupuncture and moxibustion information in the treatment template list  531  displays an edit button  532  for updating the corresponding treatment template and a delete button  533  for deleting the corresponding treatment template. Furthermore, the treatment template list screen  530  displays a new registration button  534  for registering a new treatment template. 
     When the new registration button  534  on the treatment template list screen  530  is pressed by the user, the treatment template setting unit  102  displays a treatment template setting screen  540  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  7    (S 23 ). 
     The treatment template setting screen  540  displays a treatment template name  541  that is an input field for entering a name of a treatment template and a treatment input field  542  for entering, on a human figure, treatment information indicating a treatment site and a procedure performed at the treatment site. The acupuncturist enters, in the treatment template name  541 , the name of a treatment template to be set. Here, it is assumed that information indicating a symptom, which is one of the symptoms that can be treated with acupuncture and moxibustion and is the subject of treatment information to be set by the treatment template, is included in the treatment template name. The information indicating a symptom may be any type of information (e.g., a serial number) and may not explicitly indicate the symptom, as long as the information can be used by the user to identify, in some way, the symptom for which the treatment template is generated. 
     Next, the acupuncturist enters a treatment site and a procedure performed at the treatment site on the human figure in the treatment input field  542 . Although multiple treatment sites generally exist, the present invention is not limited to this example. In the treatment input field  542 , by pressing a skeleton and skin button  543  or a muscle button  544 , it is possible to switch between a display of a human figure representing a skeleton and skin as illustrated in  FIG.  7    and a display of a human figure representing muscles as illustrated in  FIG.  8   . Also, in the treatment input field  542 , when a part of a human body is tapped at a human body mark  545 , a portion of the human figure corresponding to the tapped part is enlarged. Furthermore, in the treatment input field  542 , it is possible to change the orientation of the human figure being displayed by pressing one of display orientation switching buttons  546  that specify the orientations (front view, back view, left side view, or right side view) of the human figure. 
     When the user specifies a treatment site on the human figure by an operation such as tapping, for example, an icon  547  for “retaining needle” is displayed as a default value at the specified treatment site. When the human figure represents a skeleton and skin, and acupuncture points are displayed as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the user can specify any of the acupuncture points as a treatment site. Here, even when the acupuncture points are displayed, the user can specify any position other than the acupuncture points. Also, when the human figure represents muscles as illustrated in  FIG.  8   , the user can specify any position as a treatment site, regardless of whether it is an acupuncture point, while referring to the positions of muscles. The treatment template setting unit  102  can use the name of an acupuncture point as information indicating a treatment site when the treatment site matches the acupuncture point and use, for example, coordinate information on the human figure as information indicating a treatment site when the treatment site does not match any acupuncture point. The coordinate information may be represented by numerical values indicating an absolute position in the entire human figure or by numerical values indicating, for example, a relative position relative to the position of an acupuncture point around the treatment site. With these two types of user interfaces, the acupuncturist can flexibly specify a treatment site according to a method suitable for the acupuncturist&#39;s treatment policy. 
     Here, when the icon  547  of “retaining needle” is displayed as a default value, one of multiple sets of acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  is displayed as default values in an acupuncture and moxibustion information field  548  at the bottom of the screen (S 24 ). Default values of the icon  547  and the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  548  may be set at the same time as the acupuncture and moxibustion information is set by the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 . When it is desired to set a procedure and acupuncture and moxibustion information different from the default values as treatment information, the acupuncturist selects the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  548  by an operation such as tapping. In response, the treatment template setting unit  102  displays an acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  550  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  9    (S 25 ). Then, the treatment template setting unit  102  reads acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  and displays the read acupuncture and moxibustion information as acupuncture and moxibustion information selection candidates  551  on the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  550  (S 26 ). When the acupuncturist selects, in the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection candidates  551 , a check box corresponding to acupuncture and moxibustion information to be included in treatment information and presses a selection button  552 , the treatment template setting unit  102  displays the treatment template setting screen  540  again (S 27 ), and displays the selected (specified) acupuncture and moxibustion information in the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  548 . Also, when it is desired to set, in a treatment template, acupuncture and moxibustion information other than the acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , the acupuncturist presses a direct input button  553  on the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  550 . Then, the treatment template setting unit  102  displays an acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  560  (S 28 ). Here, because the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  560  has the same configuration as the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520 , its illustration is omitted. When acupuncture and moxibustion information is entered on the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  560  and an acupuncture and moxibustion information registration (setting) button is pressed, the treatment template setting screen  540  is displayed again (S 29 ), and the entered acupuncture and moxibustion information is displayed in the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  548 . 
     When the icon  547  is specified again at the treatment site for which treatment information has already been entered, the acupuncture and moxibustion information entered at steps S 25  through S 29  is displayed in the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  548 . The displayed acupuncture and moxibustion information can be further changed. 
     When the user completes all entries on the treatment template setting screen  540  and presses a treatment template registration button  549 , the treatment template setting unit  102  generates a treatment template including the treatment template name, the treatment sites, and the procedures and the acupuncture and moxibustion information for the respective treatment sites entered on the treatment template setting screen  540  (also including information entered on the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  550  and the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  560 ), and stores the generated treatment template in the treatment template storage unit  112  (S 28 ). 
     Although not illustrated in  FIG.  2   , when the edit button  532  is pressed in each row representing a treatment template in the treatment template list  531  on the treatment template list screen  530 , the treatment template setting screen  540  is displayed with the information items of the treatment template entered in the corresponding input fields. Then, by changing the entered information items on the treatment template setting screen  540  and pressing an acupuncture and moxibustion information registration (change) button  549 , the treatment template stored in the treatment template storage unit  112  can be updated freely. Also, by pressing the delete button  533  in each row representing a treatment template in the treatment template list  531 , the treatment template can be deleted from the treatment template storage unit  112 . 
     2.2. Function for Setting Information for Individual Patients Next, among the basic functions described above, a function for setting information on individual patients is described.  FIG.  10    illustrates a process performed by the patient information setting unit  103 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104 , the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  that are related to the function for setting information on individual patients, along with screen transitions and access to storage units. 
     2.2.1. Patient Information Setting Process 
       FIG.  11    illustrates an example of a patient list screen  570  that is one of the basic screens indicating the basic functions described above and is displayed by the patient information setting unit  103 . Similarly to the settings screen  500 , the patient list screen  570  displays a patient information screen link  1001  and a settings screen link  1002  at the bottom of the screen. The patient list screen  570  also displays a patient list  571  that is a list of patient names in patient information stored in the patient information storage unit  113  (S 31  in  FIG.  10   ). Each row of patient information in the patient list  571  displays a details button  572  for referring to the details of the corresponding patient information. Also, the patient list screen  570  displays a new registration button  573  for registering new patient information. In this specification, descriptions of the function of the patient information setting unit  103  for newly registering patient information are omitted. 
     When the details button  572  in the patient list  571  is pressed by the user, the patient information setting unit  103  displays a patient details screen  580  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  12    (S 32 ). Also, the patient information setting unit  103  reads patient information from the patient information storage unit  113  and displays the read patient information on the patient details screen  580  (S 33 ). Although only name, age, and sex are displayed as an example of patient information in  FIG.  12   , more detailed information may be displayed. Also, the patient information setting unit  103  reads prestored electronic medical record information from the electronic medical record storage unit  114  and displays the read electronic medical record information as an electronic medical record list  581  (S 34 ). By specifying each row representing an electronic medical record in the electronic medical record list  581  by an operation such as tapping, it is possible to view detailed information of the electronic medical record and to update or delete the electronic medical record as necessary. Furthermore, the patient information setting unit  103  reads prestored information of preliminary examination sheets from the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  and displays the preliminary examination sheets as a preliminary examination sheet list  582  (S 35 ). By specifying each preliminary examination sheet in the preliminary examination sheet list  582  by an operation such as tapping, it is possible to view detailed information of the preliminary examination sheet and to update or delete the preliminary examination sheet as necessary. 
     2.2.2. Electronic Medical Record Setting Process 
     When a medical record addition button  583  is pressed by the user on the patient details screen  580 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104  displays an electronic medical record setting screen  590  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  13    (S 41  in  FIG.  10   ). The electronic medical record setting screen  590  displays, in addition to the patient information, input fields for a treatment date  591  and a staff member  592 . The electronic medical record setting screen  590  also displays an input field for symptoms  593 . The acupuncturist selects, from the symptoms  593 , one or more symptoms that match the symptoms of the patient. As a result, the selected symptoms are displayed as a symptom list  594  below the symptoms  593 . In the symptom list  594 , the acupuncturist can enter an onset date and a symptom level for each symptom of the patient. Here, these information items related to symptoms can be entered by using information on symptoms set in a preliminary examination sheet that is stored in the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  by the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106 . The electronic medical record setting screen  590  further displays a treatment information entry button  595  for entering treatment information. 
     When the treatment information entry button  595  on the electronic medical record setting screen  590  is pressed by the user, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  displays a treatment information setting screen  600  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  14    (S 42 ). The treatment information setting screen  600  displays, in addition to the patient information, a “Use Treatment Template” button  601  for using, as treatment information, a treatment template that has already been generated. When the “Use Treatment Template” button  601  is pressed by the acupuncturist, the treatment template acquisition unit  105  displays a treatment template selection screen  610  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  15    (S 43 ). At this step, the treatment template acquisition unit  105  reads at least treatment template names of treatment templates from the treatment template storage unit  112  and displays a list of the read treatment template names as treatment template selection candidates  611  on the treatment template selection screen  610  (S 44 ). The acupuncturist selects, in the treatment template selection candidate  611 , the check box of a treatment template that matches a symptom of the patient for which an electronic medical record is to be generated, and presses an “Apply to Medical Record” button  612 . In response, the treatment template acquisition unit  105  reads and obtains the selected treatment template from the treatment template storage unit  112 . Then, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  displays the treatment information setting screen  600  again and displays, in a treatment input field  602 , treatment information of the treatment template obtained by the treatment template acquisition unit  105  (S 45 ). 
     Here, on the treatment template selection screen  610 , it is also possible to select the check boxes of multiple treatment templates in the treatment template selection candidates  611 . For example, in the example illustrated in  FIG.  15   , when symptoms of the patient include shoulder stiffness and arm numbness, the acupuncturist can select the check boxes of both of shoulder stiffness and arm numbness. In this case, the treatment template acquisition unit  105  obtains multiple treatment templates. Then, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  combines multiple sets of treatment information of the obtained treatment templates and superimposes the combined treatment information on the treatment input field  602  of the treatment information setting screen  600 . When the same treatment site is included in multiple sets of treatment information of different treatment templates, the treatment information of one of the treatment templates is used and displayed for the treatment site. 
     Also, it is possible to display, in the treatment template selection candidates  611 , only treatment templates corresponding to the symptoms of the patient, that is, only treatment templates having treatment template names including symptoms to which the treatment templates are applied and that match (or conform to) the symptoms entered on the electronic medical record setting screen  590 . In this case, it is necessary to set symptoms in the treatment template names in such a format that the symptoms can be matched with symptoms entered when setting an electronic medical record. Also, when there is only one treatment template that matches the symptoms of the patient, the treatment template may be automatically selected and the treatment information of the treatment template may be directly applied to and displayed in the treatment input field  602  of the treatment information setting screen  600  without displaying the treatment template selection screen  610 . 
     Similarly to the treatment template setting screen  540  described above, the treatment information setting screen  600  includes a skeleton and skin button  603 , a muscle button  604 , a human body mark  605 , and display orientation switching buttons  606 ; and the display of the human figure can be changed by operating these buttons. Also, similarly to the treatment template setting screen  540 , when the acupuncturist specifies a new treatment site on the human figure by an operation such as tapping, an icon  607  of “retaining needle” is displayed at the treatment site as a default value. Then, one of multiple sets of acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  is displayed as default values in an acupuncture and moxibustion information field  608  at the bottom of the screen. Also, when, for example, the icon  607  displayed at a treatment site to which a treatment template is applied is specified by an operation such as tapping, the acupuncture and moxibustion information set for the treatment site is displayed. When it is desired to set, in the treatment information, a procedure or acupuncture and moxibustion information different from the default values and the set values, the acupuncturist taps the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  608 . In response, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  displays an acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  620  (S 46 ). Because the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  620  is the same as the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  550 , illustration of the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  620  is omitted. The electronic medical record setting unit  104  reads acupuncture and moxibustion information stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  and displays the read acupuncture and moxibustion information on the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  620  (S 47 ); and then returns to the treatment information setting screen  600  to display selected acupuncture and moxibustion information (S 48 ). Also, in response to a user operation on the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  620 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104  displays an acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  630  (S 49 ). Because the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  630  is also the same as the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting screen  520 , illustration of the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  630  is omitted. Then, the electronic medical record setting unit  104  returns to the treatment information setting screen  600  to display information entered on the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  630  (S 50 ). 
     When the acupuncturist completes all entries on the treatment information setting screen  600  and presses an electronic medical record registration button  609 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104  generates an electronic medical record and stores the generated electronic medical record in the electronic medical record storage unit  114  (S 51 ). The electronic medical record includes, in association with patient information, a treatment date, a staff member, symptoms (including onset dates and symptom levels), treatment sites, and procedures and acupuncture and moxibustion information for the respective treatment sites that are entered on the electronic medical record setting screen  590  and the treatment information setting screen  600  (and may also include information entered on the treatment template selection screen  610 , the acupuncture and moxibustion information selection screen  620 , and the acupuncture and moxibustion information individual setting screen  630 ). 
     2.2.3. Preliminary Examination Sheet Setting Process 
     When a preliminary examination sheet addition button  584  is pressed by the acupuncturist on the patient details screen  580 , the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  displays a preliminary examination sheet setting screen  640  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  16    (S 52 ). The preliminary examination sheet setting screen  640  displays, in addition to patient information, an input field for symptoms  641 . The acupuncturist selects, from the symptoms  641 , one or more symptoms that match the symptoms of the patient. As a result, similarly to the electronic medical record setting screen  590 , the selected symptoms are displayed as a symptom list  642  below the symptoms  641 . In the symptom list  642 , the acupuncturist can enter an onset date and a symptom level for each symptom. Also, more detailed information (for example, medical history, lifestyle, etc.) can be entered on another screen by tapping a link “To Other Questions” on the preliminary examination sheet setting screen  640 . However, descriptions of this function are omitted in this specification. 
     When a preliminary examination sheet registration button  643  on the preliminary examination sheet setting screen  640  is pressed by the acupuncturist, the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  stores, in the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115 , information such as symptoms (including onset dates and symptom levels) entered on the preliminary examination sheet setting screen  640 , in association with patient information (S 52 ). 
     3. Effects and Variations of Present Embodiment 
     As described above, the first embodiment makes it possible, when providing acupuncture and moxibustion treatment to a patient, to select a treatment template corresponding to a symptom of the patient from treatment templates that include symptoms to be treated by acupuncture and moxibustion and treatment information indicating treatment sites for the symptoms and procedures to be performed at the treatment sites, and to apply the selected treatment template to an electronic medical record. Accordingly, the first embodiment enables even an acupuncturist with relatively little experience to efficiently and accurately identify a treatment method in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, and thereby makes it possible to improve accuracy of treatment. Furthermore, the first embodiment enables an acupuncturist to enter and set a treatment template. This not only enables an acupuncturist to use a treatment template set beforehand by the acupuncturist to provide treatment to a patient, but also enables an acupuncturist to use treatment templates set by other experienced acupuncturists to provide treatment to a patient. 
     Also, because it is possible to apply treatment information included in a treatment template to an electronic medical record as described above, the entry work of an electronic medical record during treatment can be greatly reduced. In the present embodiment, even when a treatment template is applied to an electronic medical record as described above, it is possible to add and modify treatment information on the treatment information setting screen  600  according to the specific treatment of each patient. This in turn makes it possible to set accurate treatment information tailored to each individual patient in an electronic medical record while reducing entry work by using a treatment template. 
     Also, as described above, when only treatment templates, in which symptoms matching the symptoms of a patient are set as the symptoms to which the treatment templates are applied, are displayed as the treatment template selection candidates  611 , an acupuncturist can more easily select a treatment template suitable for the treatment of the patient. In this case, when there is only one treatment template that matches the symptoms of the patient, the treatment information of the treatment template may be directly applied to an electronic medical record to further facilitate the use of the treatment template. 
     Here, a procedure and acupuncture and moxibustion information corresponding to the procedure may be set in treatment information of a treatment template as necessary. For example, the acupuncture and moxibustion information may include, depending on the procedure, details of an acupuncture and moxibustion product such as the type, the number (thickness), and the length of the acupuncture and moxibustion product and also an angle and a depth in the procedure using the acupuncture and moxibustion product. This makes it possible to make treatment information indicated by a treatment template more specific and to improve the reproducibility of treatment when the treatment is performed according to the treatment template. Accordingly, an acupuncturist using a treatment template can perform more accurate treatment. Also, according to the present embodiment, acupuncture and moxibustion information as described above can be set when an electronic medical record is generated. This makes it possible to keep a detailed treatment record about what type of treatment was performed using what type of an acupuncture and moxibustion product, and to refer to the treatment record when performing the treatment the next time. Here, depending on the operation, acupuncture and moxibustion information may not be set, or only a some of the acupuncture and moxibustion information may be set. Furthermore, items in acupuncture and moxibustion information are not limited to those described above, and any item may be additionally set. 
     Here, when, for example, a site other than an acupuncture point is specified as a treatment site on the treatment template setting screen  540  used to set a treatment template, or on the treatment information setting screen  600  used to set an electronic medical record, an acupuncture point closest to the specified site other than an acupuncture point may be displayed as a candidate for a treatment site and the acupuncture point may be treated as a specified treatment site. In addition, all acupuncture points at distances less than a predetermined value from the specified site other than an acupuncture point may be displayed as options, and an acupuncture point selected from the options may be treated as a specified treatment site. 
     Also, when a site other than an acupuncture point is specified as a treatment site on the treatment template setting screen  540  or the treatment information setting screen  600  as described above, acupuncture points may be displayed in different manners depending on the distances from the specified site to the acupuncture points (for example, when a site is specified as a treatment site, acupuncture points existing within 1 cm from the site may be displayed in red and acupuncture points existing within 3 cm from the site may be displayed in blue, or acupuncture points may be listed for their respective distances, such as up to 3 cm and up to 5 cm, from the specified site). 
     Furthermore, for example, a function to display a list of acupuncture points specified as treatment sites on the treatment template setting screen  540  or the treatment information setting screen  600  may also be added. For example, acupuncture points that have already been specified during a process of entering treatment information in a treatment template or an electronic medical record may be displayed as the list of acupuncture points; or when referring to a treatment template or an electronic medical record that has already been generated and stored in a storage unit, all or a part of acupuncture points set in the treatment template or the electronic medical record may be displayed as the list of acupuncture points. 
     Also, the present embodiment enables an acupuncturist to store frequently used procedures and acupuncture and moxibustion information in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111  and to select the stored procedures and acupuncture and moxibustion information when entering a treatment template or an electronic medical record. This makes it possible to reduce the load and simplify the work of entering a treatment template and an electronic medical record and to also reduce input errors in acupuncture and moxibustion information. 
     Treatment templates set as described above may be sold to, or shared with, for example, other acupuncture and moxibustion clinics (acupuncturists) or participants in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment seminars. This makes it possible to further improve the accuracy of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in the entire industry. 
     Also, although an electronic medical record is entered by using a treatment template in the present embodiment, treatment information set in an electronic medical record may be applied to a treatment template. Specifically, for example, a button for registering treatment information in the treatment input field  602  and the acupuncture and moxibustion information field  608  as a treatment template may be provided on the treatment information setting screen  610  displayed by the electronic medical record setting unit  114 . When the button is pressed by the acupuncturist, the treatment template setting unit  102  may display a user interface for entering a treatment template name and store treatment information entered on the treatment information setting screen  600  for an electronic medical record in the treatment template storage unit  112  in association with the treatment template name. 
     Furthermore, as a variation of the present embodiment, inventory information of acupuncture and moxibustion products in an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic may be stored in a storage unit, and the number of units of each acupuncture and moxibustion product indicated by acupuncture and moxibustion information (i.e., the number of units of each product used) in an electronic medical record generated at the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic may be automatically deducted from the inventory of the acupuncture and moxibustion product of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic stored in advance in the storage unit. In this case, when multiple treatment templates are selected and used to set an electronic medical record and the same treatment site is included in multiple sets of treatment information of the multiple treatment templates, for this treatment site, only the number of units of an acupuncture and moxibustion product in the treatment information of one of the multiple treatment templates may be deducted from the inventory. Also, the production lot numbers of acupuncture needles may be stored and managed. This configuration eliminates the need to separately input a decrease in inventory to manage the inventory of acupuncture and moxibustion products at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic and makes it possible to update inventory information by just entering electronic medical record information. Also, an average number of units of each acupuncture and moxibustion product used in a predetermined period may be calculated based on the number of units of the acupuncture and moxibustion product used, and a timing at which the stock of the acupuncture and moxibustion product becomes depleted may be predicted based on the average number of units of the acupuncture and moxibustion product used. Furthermore, the delivery time of each acupuncture and moxibustion product may be set in advance, and a warning may be output to urge the user to place an order at a timing obtained by deducting the delivery time from the timing at which the stock becomes depleted. 
     Second Embodiment 
     1. Overall Configuration 
       FIG.  17    illustrates an example of the overall configuration of an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system according to a second embodiment. The acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system includes an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , a patient terminal  20 , a data server  30 , and a management server  40 . Each of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , the patient terminal  20 , the data server  30 , and the management server  40  is an information processing apparatus and may be implemented by, for example, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device, or any other type of device. The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , the patient terminal  20 , the data server  30 , and the management server  40  are interconnected via a network  50 . The network  50  may include, for example, one or more of a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, and the like. 
     In the second embodiment, storage units provided in the storage device of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  in the first embodiment are provided in a storage device of the data server  30 . Also, preliminary examination sheet information can be set not only by using the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , but also by using the patient terminal  20 . Furthermore, the management server  40  can also access information in the storage units of the data server  30 . Below, only configurations different from the first embodiment are described in detail. 
     The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  is used at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic that provides acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. In the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system of the present embodiment, not only a case in which one acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  is used, but also a case in which acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminals  10  are used at multiple acupuncture and moxibustion clinics (and in addition, a case in which multiple acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminals  10  are used in one acupuncture and moxibustion clinic) is assumed, and multiple acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminals  10  may be present. The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  includes an acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , a treatment template setting unit  102 , a patient information setting unit  103 , an electronic medical record setting unit  104 , a treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and a preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  the functions of which are implemented by executing an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support program on the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 . The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  also includes an input-output unit  121  and a communication unit  122 . 
     The main functions of the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , the treatment template setting unit  102 , the patient information setting unit  103 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104 , the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each of these units accesses, via the communication unit  122 , an acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  311 , a treatment template storage unit  312 , a patient information storage unit  313 , an electronic medical record storage unit  314 , and a preliminary examination sheet storage unit  315  provided in the data server  30 . 
     Also, in the second embodiment, multiple acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminals  10  may be used in different acupuncture and moxibustion clinics. For this reason, when writing any type of information into the corresponding storage unit of the data server  30 , each of the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , the treatment template setting unit  102 , the patient information setting unit  103 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104 , the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  adds, to the information, acupuncture and moxibustion clinic information for identifying the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic by which the information is set. Here, basically, the information is accessible only from the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic by which the information is set. However, for example, it is also possible to enable the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  of another acupuncture and moxibustion clinic to access a certain piece of information as necessary by setting, in the information, an access control flag in which the other acupuncture and moxibustion clinic is specified. 
     The input-output unit  121  is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, the descriptions of the input-output unit  121  are omitted here. The communication unit  122  is a communication module that functions as an interface for enabling communications between the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  and the network  50  and is implemented by, for example, a modem or a LAN card. 
     The patient terminal  20  is used by a patient who receives acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. In the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system of the present embodiment, it is also assumed that the patient terminal  20  is used by multiple patients, and there may be multiple patient terminals  20 . For example, the patient terminal  20  may be a smartphone owned by the patient. The patient terminal  20  includes a preliminary examination sheet setting unit  201 , the function of which is implemented by executing a part of the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support program on the patient terminal  20 . Also, the patient terminal  20  includes an input-output unit  211  and a communication unit  212 . 
     The preliminary examination sheet setting unit  201  has functions similar to the functions of the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  described in the first embodiment, except that the user is a patient and the preliminary examination sheet is stored in a storage unit of the data server  30 . 
     The input-output unit  210  is implemented by, for example, various drivers that function as interfaces with an input device and an output device provided in the patient terminal  20 . The communication unit  211  is a communication module that functions as an interface for enabling communication between the patient terminal  20  and the network  50 . 
     The data server  30  is an information processing apparatus that stores, in a storage device (storage unit), information written into the storage device by the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  and the patient terminal  20 . The data server  30  includes the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  311 , the treatment template storage unit  312 , the patient information storage unit  313 , the electronic medical record storage unit  314 , and the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  315  in a storage device provided in the data server  30 . The data server  30  also includes a communication unit  321 . The acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , the patient terminal  20 , and the management server  40  access the storage device as necessary via the communication unit  321  of the data server  30  and a module (not shown) running on the data server  30  and for reading and writing data from and into the storage device, and thereby read data from, and write data to, the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  311 , the treatment template storage unit  312 , the patient information storage unit  313 , the electronic medical record storage unit  314 , and the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  315 . The structures of data stored in the respective storage units are substantially the same as the structures of data stored in the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , the treatment template storage unit  112 , the patient information storage unit  113 , the electronic medical record storage unit  114 , and the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  in the first embodiment, except that each piece of data includes acupuncture and moxibustion clinic information and an access control flag in which one or more acupuncture and moxibustion clinics are specified. 
     The communication unit  321  is a communication module that functions as an interface for enabling communication between the data server  30  and the network  50 . 
     The management server  40  can access the storage device of the data server  30 . The management server  40  is mainly used by a system administrator of the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system. Here, a system administrator not only indicates a person who maintains and manages the operation of the system, but may also indicate any person (for example, a provider of acupuncture and moxibustion products) who is allowed to use information stored in the storage device of the data server  30 . The management server  40  includes a treatment information analysis unit  401 , the function of which is implemented by executing a part of the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support program on the management server  40 . The management server  40  also includes a communication unit  411  and an input-output unit  412 . 
     The treatment information analysis unit  401  accesses the data server  30  via the communication unit  411  and analyzes contents of treatment provided by an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic based on treatment information included in at least one of a treatment template stored in the treatment template storage unit  312  and electronic medical record information stored in the electronic medical record storage unit  314 , and outputs an analysis result via an output unit. The output unit is, for example, a display or a printer. 
     The communication unit  411  is a communication module that functions as an interface for enabling communications between the management server  40  and the network  50 . The input-output unit  412  is implemented by, for example, various drivers that function as interfaces with an input device and an output device provided in the management server  40 . 
     2. Treatment Information Analysis Process in Management Server 
     Next, the process performed in the acupuncture and moxibustion information support system of the second embodiment is described. Processes performed in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  and the patient terminal  20  are substantially the same as the processes described in the first embodiment, and therefore, their descriptions are omitted here. In the second embodiment, an example of the process performed by the treatment information analysis unit  401  of the management server  40  is described with reference to examples of screens. 
       FIG.  18    is a drawing illustrating an example of a process performed by the treatment information analysis unit  401  along with displayed screens and access to storage units.  FIG.  19    illustrates an example of a treatment information analysis screen (electronic medical record)  650  displayed by the treatment information analysis unit  401 . The treatment information analysis screen (electronic medical record)  650  is displayed, for example, when a program is executed by an administrator. The treatment information analysis unit  401  accesses the electronic medical record storage unit  314  of the data server  30  to read information on electronic medical records stored in the electronic medical record storage unit  314 , performs an analysis based on at least one of symptoms, treatment sites, procedures, and acupuncture and moxibustion information included in the electronic medical records, and outputs an analysis result (S 61  in  FIG.  18   ). 
     For example, as shown in an analysis result  651  of the treatment information analysis screen (electronic medical record)  650  illustrated as an example in  FIG.  19 A , the treatment information analysis unit  401  reads all electronic medical records of a given acupuncture and moxibustion clinic, and based on procedures and acupuncture and moxibustion information included in the electronic medical records, calculates and outputs information indicating how many times and for what procedure each acupuncture and moxibustion product was used, in other words, the number of units of each acupuncture and moxibustion product (each item) used. With this information, for example, a provider (seller) of acupuncture and moxibustion products can know what types of acupuncture and moxibustion products are often used in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic. Here, when a treatment detail link is tapped in the row of each acupuncture and moxibustion product, for example, information indicating a symptom and a treatment site for which the procedure and the acupuncture and moxibustion product was used may be further displayed. Also, such an analysis may be performed for a group of multiple acupuncture and moxibustion clinics instead of for each acupuncture and moxibustion clinic, and may also be performed for each acupuncturist based on the information on a staff member in the electronic medical record. 
     Also, when a treatment template analysis button  652  is pressed by the user on the treatment information analysis screen (electronic medical record)  650 , the treatment information analysis unit  401  displays a treatment information analysis screen (treatment template)  660  illustrated in  FIG.  19 B  (S 62 ). At this step, the treatment information analysis unit  401  accesses the treatment template storage unit  312  of the data server  30  to read information on treatment templates stored in the treatment template storage unit  312 , performs an analysis based on at least one of treatment sites, procedures, and acupuncture and moxibustion information included in the treatment templates, and outputs an analysis result to an analysis result  661  on the treatment information analysis screen (treatment template)  660  (S 63 ). Also in this case, similarly to the example of analysis based on electronic medical record information described above, it is possible to read all treatment templates of a given acupuncture and moxibustion clinic, and calculate and output information indicating how many times and for what procedure each acupuncture and moxibustion product was used, in other words, the number of units of each acupuncture and moxibustion product used. With an analysis based on treatment templates as described above, it is also possible to predict acupuncture and moxibustion products that are highly likely to be used in the future without relying on past usage records. Here, when an electronic medical record analysis button  662  is pressed by the user on the treatment information analysis screen (treatment template)  660 , the treatment information analysis screen (electronic medical record)  650  is displayed again. 
     3. Effects and Variations of Present Embodiment 
     With the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system of the second embodiment, it is possible to analyze and understand treatment provided at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic by analyzing treatment information at the management server  40  based on electronic medical record information stored in the electronic medical record storage unit  314  of the data server  30  and treatment template information stored in the treatment template storage unit  312  of the data server  30 . For example, as in the examples described above, a provider of acupuncture and moxibustion products can know what types of acupuncture and moxibustion products are often used at each acupuncture and moxibustion clinic by analyzing the usage of each acupuncture and moxibustion product (for example, by calculating the number of units used) and thereby analyze types of acupuncture and moxibustion products that should be mainly sold to the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic. 
     The analysis described above is just an example, and the treatment information analysis unit  401  can perform any type of analysis as necessary by using data included in electronic medical record information and treatment template information. For example, even when acupuncture and moxibustion information is not stored, it is possible to analyze the correlation between symptoms of patients and treatment sites and procedures for the symptoms (i.e., what type of procedure is performed at which treatment site for a given symptom). Also, it is possible to analyze the correlation between treatment sites and procedures and acupuncture and moxibustion products (i.e., what type of procedure and what type of acupuncture and moxibustion product are used at a given treatment site (e.g., at a given acupuncture point)). Here, for example, when a site other than an acupuncture point is specified as a treatment site, an acupuncture point at the shortest distance from the treatment site may be identified, and an analysis may be performed assuming that the acupuncture point is specified as the treatment site. Also, because electronic medical record information includes treatment dates, analyses described above as examples may be performed as time-series analyses. For example, the number of units of an acupuncture and moxibustion product used may be calculated as a time series (for example, the number of units used may be calculated for each week or month) to identify changes in the number of units used. Also, such analyses may be performed for electronic medical record information and treatment templates of all acupuncture and moxibustion clinics in the data server  30  or may be performed, for example, for each acupuncture and moxibustion clinic or each acupuncturist in charge. 
     When performing an analysis for each acupuncture and moxibustion clinic or each acupuncturist, a treatment information analysis unit may be provided in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  instead of in the management server  40 , and only treatment information stored in a storage unit of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  may be analyzed. In this case, for example, the analysis result may be output to an output unit provided in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  via the input-output unit  121 , or may be sent via the communication unit  122  to another device such as the management server  40 . 
     It is also possible to provide a treatment information analysis unit in the data server  30  instead of in the management server  40  and to analyze treatment information based on information stored in the storage device of the data server  30 . In this case, the data server  30  may output the analysis result to an output unit of the data server  30  or send the analysis result to another device. 
     Also, in the configuration described above as a variation of the first embodiment in which the number of units of an acupuncture and moxibustion product used in acupuncture and moxibustion information included in electronic medical record information registered at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic is automatically deducted from the stock quantity in the inventory information of the acupuncture and moxibustion product in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic, the inventory information of each acupuncture and moxibustion clinic may be stored in the data server  30 , and the management server  40  may be configured to enable a provider of acupuncture and moxibustion products to refer to inventory information of acupuncture and moxibustion products in each acupuncture and moxibustion clinic and thereby determine how many acupuncture and moxibustion products need to be provided to the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic. Also, similarly to the first embodiment, the management server  40  may be configured to calculate an average number of units of each acupuncture and moxibustion product used in a predetermined period based on the number of units of the acupuncture and moxibustion product used and to predict, based on the average number of units of the acupuncture and moxibustion product used, a timing at which the stock of the acupuncture and moxibustion product in the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic will be depleted. Furthermore, the delivery time of each acupuncture and moxibustion product may be set in advance, and the management server  40  may be configured to perform a process of ordering the acupuncture and moxibustion product at a timing obtained by subtracting the delivery time from the timing at which the stock will be depleted. 
     Furthermore, because various types of information set by the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  are stored in the storage units of the data server  30  that are accessible from the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminals  10  of multiple acupuncture and moxibustion clinics, the information can be shared with other acupuncture and moxibustion clinics by using, for example, the access control flag described above. For example, a treatment template generated at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic can be shared with other acupuncture and moxibustion clinics belonging to the same management group. Also, even when a patient changes clinics, it is possible to share electronic medical records with a destination acupuncture and moxibustion clinic. 
     Also, by requesting a patient to store a preliminary examination sheet in the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  315  from the patient terminal  20  and referring to the preliminary examination sheet using the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , the acupuncturist can understand the symptoms of the patient before the patient receives treatment at the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic and can consider treatment policy in advance. In this case, for example, it is also possible to consider a treatment template to be used. This enables the patient terminal  20  to set a preliminary examination sheet and makes it possible to reduce the work that needs to be performed when a patient visits a clinic. 
     In both of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit  101 , the treatment template setting unit  102 , the patient information setting unit  103 , the electronic medical record setting unit  104 , the treatment template acquisition unit  105 , and the preliminary examination sheet setting unit  106  are provided in the same acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 . However, all or some of these units may be distributed to different acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminals  10 . For example, a treatment template generated by the treatment template setting unit  102  of a first acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  may be stored in the treatment template storage unit  112 , and the treatment template may be used by accessing the treatment template storage unit  112  from the treatment template acquisition unit  105  provided in a second acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 . Similarly, each set of the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  111 , the treatment template storage unit  112 , the patient information storage unit  113 , the electronic medical record storage unit  114 , and the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  115  in the first embodiment and the acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit  311 , the treatment template storage unit  312 , the patient information storage unit  313 , the electronic medical record storage unit  314 , and the preliminary examination sheet storage unit  315  in the second embodiment may not necessarily be provided in the same device, and all or some of these units may be distributed to different devices. 
     [Hardware Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus] 
       FIG.  20    illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus for each of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10 , the patient terminal  20 , the data server  30 , and the management server  40 , which are components of the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment support system in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above. The information processing apparatus includes a processor  910 , a memory  920 , a storage  930 , a portable storage medium drive device  940 , an input-output device  950 , and a communication interface  960 . 
     The processor  910  includes a control unit, an arithmetic unit, and an instruction decoder. In the processor  910 , an execution unit causes the arithmetic unit to perform arithmetic and logical operations according to instructions of a program decoded by the instruction decoder in response to a control signal output from the control unit. The processor  910  also includes a control register that stores various types of information used for control and a cache that can temporarily store information obtained from, for example, the memory  2  that has already been accessed. The processor  910  may have a configuration that includes multiple central processing unit (CPU) cores. 
     The memory  920  is, for example, a storage device such as a random-access memory (RAM) and is a main memory into which programs executed by the processor  910  are loaded and that stores data used in processes performed by the processor  910 . The storage  930  is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, and stores programs and various types of data. The portable storage medium drive device  940  reads data and programs stored in a portable storage medium  970 . The portable storage medium  970  is, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. The processor  910  executes programs stored in the storage  930  and the portable storage medium  970  in corporation with the memory  920  and the storage  930 . Here, programs to be executed and data to be accessed by the processor  910  may be stored in another device that can communicate with the information processing apparatus. 
     The input-output device  950  is, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, and/or a display, receives operation commands corresponding to operations performed by the user, and outputs results of processes performed by the information processing apparatus. The communication interface  960  is, for example, a communication module such as the communication unit  122  of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal  10  in the second embodiment described above, and enables data communications with external devices. The components of the information processing apparatus described above are connected to each other via a bus  980 . 
     [Other Matters] 
     The functional configuration and the physical configuration of the information processing apparatus described in this specification are not limited to those described above. For example, functions and physical resources described above may be integrated or conversely, may be further distributed, for implementation. 
     REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST 
       10  . . . acupuncture and moxibustion clinic terminal;  101  . . . acupuncture and moxibustion information setting unit;  102  . . . treatment template setting unit;  103  . . . patient information setting unit;  104  . . . electronic medical record setting unit;  105  . . . treatment template acquisition unit;  106 ,  201  . . . preliminary examination sheet setting unit;  111 ,  311  . . . acupuncture and moxibustion information storage unit;  112 ,  312  . . . treatment template storage unit;  113 ,  313  . . . patient information storage unit;  114 ,  314  . . . electronic medical record storage unit;  115 ,  315  . . . preliminary examination sheet storage unit;  20  . . . patient terminal;  30  . . . data server;  40  . . . management server