Pharmacy Informatics

Pharmacist vs Pharmacy Informaticist

Pharmacists utilize informatics to make clinical judgement which ensures patient safety and
improves positive patient care outcomes.

Pharmacy informaticist
• health care professional who specializes in the health informatics of medication-related patient
care.
• focuses primarily on the use of technology and communications to enhance factors associated
with medication administration and patient outcomes resulting from prevent errors and expedite
pharmaceutical services.
Drug Informatics
Also known as drug information, medication information

It is the discovery, use, and management of information in the utilization of

medication

It covers all information on drugs, from its identification, cost, pharmacokinetics to

dosage and adverse effects
Common Drug information
● Product Image
● Packing
● Proprietary Name/ Brand Name
● Drug Category
● Non-proprietary Name/ Generic Name/
● Therapeutic Category
Composition (for Combination Drugs)
● Pharmaceutics
● Product Description
● Pharmacokinetics
● Manufacturer/Distributor
● Pharmacodynamic
● Indications/Use
● Poisoning and Toxicology
● Administration
● Teratogenicity
● Dosage Regimen/Dosage/ Dosage
● Lactation and Infant Risks
Instructions/Recommended Dose
● Laws and Policies
● Contraindications
● Cost
● Warning / Special Precautions
● Storage Condition
● Most Common Adverse Drug Reactions/
● Stability/Incompatibilities
Side Effects
● Drug Interactions
● Pregnancy Category (Us Fda Categories)
Medical Informatics
Also known as health informatics

It is the discipline that directly impacts the patient – physician relationship.

It focuses on the information technology that enables the effective collection of data using technology tools
to develop medical knowledge and to facilitate the delivery of patient medical care.

This field deals with the resources, devices, and methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage,
retrieval, and use of information in health and biomedicine.

The information gathered here can be utilized in identify the best medications that should be given to the
patient
Common Medical Information
● Pathophysiology
● Symptomatology
● Risk Factors
● Causative agents
● Complications
● Pharmacotherapy
● Non-drug Therapy and Management
● Lifestyle changes etc.
Technology in the Pharmacy Practice

The field of pharmacy is rapidly evolving

Pharmacy Models is changing with the introduction of

technology and automation

Technology is continuously being developed with the

intention of increasing safety, reducing cost and
increasing efficiency
Technologies utilized with Pharmacy Informatic

The American Society of HEalth-System Pharmacist (ASHP) provided a list of

technologies utilized in the practice of pharmacy informatics. These includes the
following
● Automated Dispensing Cabinets
● Barcode Medication Administration
● Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
● Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMARs)
● E-Prescribing
● Robotics IV Automation
● Smart Pumps
● Telepharmacy
Information Technology and Automation is applied to the Medication Use Process

Administration Monitoring
Dispensing Delivery
Inventory Ordering

Wholesaler Electronic Unit dose Delivery robot Smart pump Pharmacy

Ordering medication machine Automated Barcode interventions
Pharmacy record Compounder dispensing medication Reports
receiving and prescriber p[ump cabinet administration Data analytics
storage order entry IV workflow Prescription Self- Self-monitoring
E-prescribing Robots kiosk administration
Clinical
decision
support
Pharmacist
verification
Automated Dispensing Cabinets Computerized Provider Order
Entry (CPOE)
It is a computerized drug storage
devices or cabinets that allows CPOE is an application that
medication to be stored and enables providers to enter
dispensed near the point of care medical orders into a computer
while controlling and tracking system, rather than placing
drug distribution orders using paper and impacts
many areas including nursing,
pharmacy, laboratory,
admissions and radiology
Barcode Medication Administration

It is an inventory control system that uses

barcodes to prevent human error in distribution
of prescription medication in the hospital.
The information is encoded in barcodes which
allows for the comparison of the medication
being administered with what was ordered for
the patient.
This Barcode POint-of-Care (BPOC) system is
designed to make sure that the right drug is
given to the right patient via the right route in
the right amount and right time.
 electronic Medication E-prescribing
Administration Record (eMAR)
Electronic prescribing is a
Technology that automatically
technology framework that allows
documents the administration of physicians and other medical
medication into certified EHR practitioners to write and send
technology using electronic tracking prescriptions to a participating
sensors (for example, radio frequency pharmacy electronically instead of
identification (RFID)) or using handwritten or faxed notes or
calling in prescriptions.
electronically readable tagging such
as bar coding).
 Robotics IV Automation (RIVA) Smart Pumps

RIVA is a robotic device that automatically Infusion pumps are commonly used
prepares medications for syringes and IV in healthcare settings to deliver
bags in a sterile environment.
medications, fluids and nutrients to
RIVA eliminates cross-contamination and patients at precisely controlled rates.
errors in delicate medication preparations. “Smart" infusion pumps have become
The exacting robotic system not only increasingly sophisticated and include
automates crucial compounding processes
such features as dose error reduction
that are vulnerable to human error, but uses
UV pulse disinfection for medication bags software, commonly referred to as
and vials to eliminate bacterial and fungal drug libraries.
contamination.
Robotic process automation (RPA) is a software-based automation service that
uses AI, relying on robots or software for performing daily tasks and certain
business processes with higher accuracy and speed. The result is higher
efficiency, performance, reduced cost, and advanced data analytics.

The adoption of AI for RPA for common and high value administrative functions
such as revenue cycle, supply chain, and patient scheduling has the potential to
rapidly increase as AI helps automate or partially automate components of these
functions, driving enhanced financial outcomes for provider organizations.

Pharmacists can harness the power of this technology to address compliance and
regulatory requirements by reducing human errors, meet patient expectations with
high-quality medicines and compliance, and reduce production and compliance
costs.
Pharmacy Mobile App
Mobile apps are the most common informatics tools used by medical
and pharmacy practitioners as well as students.
There are various mobile application that can be utilized by
pharmacist from drug information retrieval to patient education,
some of which are:
1. Epocrates
2. Pocket Pharmacist
3. CDC Vaccine Schedules
4. Drug.com Medication Guide
5. Merck Manual Professional
6. Lexicomp
7. Drugs @ FDA express

Here in the Philippines the most utilized mobile app by a pharmacist

is SwipeRx

SwipeRx offers an easy-to-use mobile app that allows pharmacies to keep

up to date and connect with their peers. SwipeRx is uniquely designed for
pharmacy professionals in Southeast Asia to help them run their pharmacy
more efficiently and effectively.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine allows patients to have a remote, non-emergency
office visit with their health care provider by using a smartphone,
computer or tablet.

Telemedicine Network of the Philippines (TNP) was established

and held its first teleconference network meeting last May 18,
2016. This network is the first to simultaneously connect hospitals
across the country utilizing the network server established by the
DOST. TNP aims to provide a continuous collaborative medical
education, and eventually, to utilize technology in the future as a
way to reach out to our patients.
Telepharmacy
a method used in pharmacy practice in
which a pharmacist utilizes
telecommunications technology to oversee
aspects of pharmacy operations or provide
patient care services.
Orders are sent to main pharmacy
utilizing scanning devices
Scanned Image
Pharmacist reviews orders received

• Accuracy of order
entry

• Appropriateness
• Dosing
• Allergies
• Interactions
• Disease state
Consultations can be done via
telehealth video link
 Medication dispensing by
automatic dispensing devices
ADD* Restocking

• The utilization of a
remote camera and
telehealth technology
to oversee automated
dispensing device*
(ADD) restocking
Fill Lists
Technician will print
ADD fill list & scan
copy to remote
pharmacist
Technician will pull
needed medication
from inventory in the
pharmacy
Restocking
Pharmacist
visually insures
with the
technician that
the medication
is placed in the
proper location
in the
automated
dispensing
device
Medication Verification

• Pharmacist will
visually observe
and verify name,
strength, dosage
form and quantity
restocked in
automated
dispensing device.