Pathway A — chronic low back pain, 14 days
- Records sent: MRI report, two years of physiotherapy notes, current medication list.
- Physician impression: degenerative disc changes without surgical indication; acupuncture and tuina reasonable, combined with a graded movement programme.
- On the ground: daily acupuncture (20 sessions across 14 days), tuina three times weekly, herbal decoction reviewed every five days, qigong instruction for home continuation.
- Discharge: written summary in English, exercise sheet, and a recommendation for review at three months.
Pathway B — post-stroke rehabilitation, 21 days
- Records sent: discharge summary, imaging, current rehabilitation plan, anticoagulation details.
- Physician impression: rehabilitation window open; acupuncture as adjunct to physical and occupational therapy, with strict anticoagulation precautions.
- On the ground: acupuncture five mornings per week, tuina for spasticity, concurrent physiotherapy in the hospital rehabilitation department, family training sessions.
- Discharge: functional status summary, home programme, and coordination with the patient’s rehabilitation team at home.
Pathway C — sleep and stress, 7 days
- Records sent: sleep diary, thyroid and blood panel, list of current supplements.
- Physician impression: no organic cause identified by the referring physician; short residential course reasonable, with attention to caffeine, light exposure and breathing practice.
- On the ground: acupuncture every other day, moxibustion, herbal formula, daily qigong, sleep hygiene coaching.
- Discharge: 4-week home plan and criteria for stopping if no change by week six.
These pathways describe the structure of an arrangement, not the result of any individual case. Outcomes differ between patients, and no pathway here is a promise.