Pharmacy Informatics

What Is Pharmacy Informatics?

Lecture No (1)
 Information
Information: is a Data that is:
(1) accurate and timely,

(2) specific and organized for a purpose,

(3) presented within a context that gives it meaning and relevance,

(4) can lead to an increase in understanding and decrease in uncertainty.

Why Information Is Valuable

Information is valuable because it can affect

Decision
From Data to Wisdom
Informatics

Informatics is the study

of the best practices in
information accrual,
handling, dissemination,
and comprehension
using appropriate
technology.
 Medical Informatics
The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
defines medical informatics as
“the use of information science and technology to
advance medical knowledge and improve quality of care
and health system performance.”

The American Association of Medical Colleges defines it

as
“the rapidly developing scientific field that deals with
resources, devices, and formalized methods for optimizing the
storage retrieval and management of biomedical information
for problem solving and decision making.”
Scope of Informatics

Data, information, knowledge and wisdom

Communication and information management

Types, capabilities, and limitations of technology

Legal and ethical considerations of information

Informatics Ability :

Computer • a set of skills that allow individuals to use

Literacy computer technology to accomplish tasks.

• a set of cognitive processes that allows the

Informatics individual to recognize what, when, and where
Knowledge information is needed and to locate, evaluate,
and use that information appropriately.

• the technical ability to use tools and techniques

Informatics
to improve information and knowledge access,
Skills
integration, management and use.
Pharmacy informatics

“the use and integration of data, information,

knowledge, technology, and automation in the
medication-use process for the purpose of
improving health outcomes.”
 Pharmacy informatics
“the use and integration of data, information, knowledge,
technology, and automation in the medication-use process
for the purpose of improving health outcomes.”

 The application of technology and information systems to the medication

use process to improve outcomes and increase safety and efficiency

 Informatics pharmacists are involved in the design, implementation,

customization and support of health information systems and technologies.
 Pharmacy informatics

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)

defines pharmacy informatics

“ as an important subset of medical informatics in which pharmacists

“use their knowledge of information systems and medication-use
processes
to improve patient care by ensuring that new technologies lead to
safer and more effective medication use.
 Pharmacy informatics Key Concepts

Electronic Standards Knowledge Workers

Knowledge Wisdom

Information Decision Making

Data Technology

Informatics Workflow
Competencies

Hardware

Software
Working Model for Pharmacy Informatics
 Drugs Information
electronic
primary
information
literature
Information about drugs includes: resources,

hospital and
pharmacy
pharmacokinetics
information
systems,
Patient-Related Issues

Electronic Health
Medication Safety,
Records,

The Practice Of
Decision Support
Evidence-based
Systems,
Medicine
 The skills needed
The skills needed to implement this knowledge in patient-centered care
include:
Effective literature

Web search skills,

An understanding of databases,

The controlled vocabularies

Needed for interoperability between systems and for optimal searching of

some databases
What pharmacists need to know ?

how to access computerized medical information in

various databases

understand the underpinnings of these databases to

use them most effectively.
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Computerized prescriber-order-entry
Clinical decision-support tools
medication orders in real time
Automated dispensing cabinets
Integrated medication surveillance applications
Integrated medication administration management systems
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Computerized prescriber-order-entry :
systems integrated with electronic health
records (EHR) and pharmacy information
systems.
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Clinical decision-support tools :that bring

best-practice information and guidelines to
clinicians at the time they need them and
rule-based systems for
monitoring,
evaluating,
responding, and
reconciling medication-related events and
information
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Pharmacy information systems that allow

electronic validation of medication orders in real
time:
 provide the data flow needed to update both
1. the medication administration record
2. order-driven medication dispensing systems,
support such operational activities as supply-
chain management and revenue compliance
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Automated handout cabinets and

robotics integrated or interfaced
with pharmacy information systems
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Integrated medication administration

management systems that enable the
administration of bar-coded medications
and use of “smart” infusion pumps
Benefits of Information Technology in providing medical care

Integrated medication monitoring

applications for the reporting of
medication incidents and adverse events
Requirements of Medical Information Technology Systems
Ability to capture Ability to
Ability to track
Security and correct System data checks communicate to
changes
information and between users

correct Drug/Drug and

Patient Drug/Allergy Notifications
system
Information checks
access

correct user Patient Notes

ID problems

Protect
sensitive CPOE
patient data
Who is an Informatics Pharmacist?

An informatics pharmacist is a dual specialist

•Knowledgeable about both pharmacy practice and informatics
•Is able to analyze pharmacy practice from analytical design perspective
•Is able to analyze health informatics technologies from a clinical/operational
perspective
•Has the ability to look at both the “big picture” and the individual details and
processes.
Informatics Pharmacist skills /Characteristics
Strong understanding of pharmacy practice
Knowledgeable about the medication use process
Knowledgeable about information systems, healthcare technology and automation

Basic understanding of database design and function

Current with relevant standards, regulations and initiatives
Ability to anticipate future needs and challenges
Ability to think about the “end user”
Ability to teach and guide others
Communication skills
Role of an Informatics Pharmacist
Ensure patient safety

Provide guidance and leadership for all technology initiatives that

support medication use
Customize and tailor health information systems and technology to
the needs of practice

Provide education to healthcare professionals and managers

Serve as a resource for hospital staff

Provide recommendations regarding vendor selection

Current Technology

Health Electronic Computerized Clinical Electronic

Information Medication Provider Order Decision Prescribing
Systems Administration Entry Support
Records
Current Technology

Automated Inventory Bar Coding Radio- Smart Robotics

Dispensing Manageme frequency Pumps
Cabinets nt Systems identificati
on
Additional Resources
Presents the important aspects of pharmacy computer systems at
an introductory level

Includes helpful information on choosing informatics as a career

Addresses the Pharm D curricula standards and guidelines of the Accreditation

Council for Pharmaceutical Education

Offers chapters on avoiding medication errors, evidence-based practice,

and best practices in information accrual, appraisal, and management

Explores the future of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences,

including the emergence of virtual communities and changing
publishing models