Title: Planning for pharmacy information systems among US hospitals

Authors: Jeffrey P. Harrison; Charzetta H. James

Addresses: Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA. ' Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA

Abstract: US hospitals are investing in pharmacy information systems to meet accompanying technological and workload demands as well as implement evidence-based medical care. The automation of pharmacy processes, including verification of patient identity and automated medication alerts, when linked to other advanced clinical information systems such as computerised physician order entry (CPOE) systems and the electronic medical record (EMR) has a synergistic effect on improving healthcare quality. Our research shows that US hospitals are actively involved in acquiring pharmacy information systems. One thousand six hundred seventy one US hospitals or 32% have operational pharmacy information systems and 732 of them currently have CPOE systems linked to the pharmacy information system. In addition, 3,995 US hospitals currently have automated dispensing machines (ADM) with 910 planned for future installation. As a result, the increasing investment in pharmacy information systems is providing state-of-the-art medication support which enhances patient safety and healthcare quality.

Keywords: pharmacy information systems; patient safety; healthcare quality; USA; United States; hospitals; patient verification; patient identity; automated medication alerts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2012.045876

International Journal of Public Policy, 2012 Vol.8 No.1/2/3, pp.106 - 121

Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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