Technology in Pharmacy

Tara Yeager

Computer Literacy

April 29, 2009

What Pharmacists Do…Pharmacists:

• Distribute drugs

• Advise patients as well as health care professionals

• Monitor progress

• Compound medications

Why Technology isNeeded in Pharmacies• Pharmacy Informatics

• Enhance the work output

• Deliver information at point of care

• Immediately review clinical information

• Support provision of care

The Dispensing Process

• Inputs Receiving the Rx

• Throughputs Processing the Rx

• Outputs Delivery and counseling

OutputsOutputs

InputsInputs

Through Puts

Inputs: Receiving the Rx• Internet refills

• Integrated Voice Response (IVR)

• e-Prescribing (CPOE)

Internet Refills• Securely request prescription through

pharmacy's website• Verifies prescription availability automatically• In order to refill online, you will need:

Name Phone Number E-mail Address Prescription Number Store Address

• Have choice of how to get prescription

Integrated Voice Response

(IVR)• Computers detect voice and keypad inputs

• Manage information

• Respond to questions in their language

• Information is recorded

• Information logged in

• Drug supply management

E-Prescribing (CPOE)• Computerized Physician Order

Entry

• Usually used in hospitals

• Communicated over computer network

• Decreases delay

• Reduces errors

• Either point-of-care or off-site

• Error checking

Through-Puts: Processing the Rx

• Automated dispensing technology

• High speed Internet claims services

• Workflow system

Automated Dispensing Technology

• Automates medication dispensing

• Inventory control

• Reduces dispensing and restocking errors

• Increases productivity

• MedCarousel & Pixus

High Speed Internet Claims Services

• NDC & DataStat

• Commercial databases

• Screen for information on drug

• Each drug is identified

• Also deals with billing issues

Workflow Systems• Paperless Pharmacy Software

• Not “all-or-none” process

• Workflow software includes: Pharmacy document management software Electronic prescription software Electronic order entry software Electronic medical records

• There are also other items, such as: Bar codes Browser based Fax Servers Document imaging

Outputs: Delivery & Counseling

• Rx tracking from a receipt

• POS systems

Electronic Rx Tracking• PDMP

• Prescription information must be electronic

• Allows investigators to get information from multiple pharmacies

• Identify illegal activity

• Patient specific

• Manage patient care

POS Systems

• Point of Sale

• Increase efficiency

• Improve operations

• Reduce out-of-stock situations

• Advanced and reliable

Effects of Technology

0 1 2 3 4 5

GeneralSatisfaction

DURProblems

WorkflowDisruptions

ProcessingSpeed

TechRPh

• The orange represents the e-Prescribing

5=Much Better, 4=Somewhat Better, 3=About Same, 2=Somewhat Worse,

1=Much Worse

Compared to Non-Electronic Prescriptions.. • With e-Prescribing:

o New prescriptions require about 26.6% less staff time for completion

o Renewed prescriptions require about 10.2% less staff time

o Total labor costs were reduced by about 15.8% for new prescriptions and about 6.1% for renewed prescriptions.

Problems• Don’t use to full capacity

• Not patient or committed enough

• Never use benefits

• Integrate computers into curriculum

• Need to use all that is available

References

http://www.mckesson.com/static_files/McKesson.com/MPT/Documents/MAIFiles/MedCarouselSellSheet.pdf

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2517975

http://www.mckesson.com/en_us/McKesson.com/For%2BPharmacies/Outpatient/Pharmacy%2BManagement%2BSoftware%2Band%2BServices/Point-of-Sale%2Bfor%2BPharmacy%2BRx.html