Technology, communication, and medication: What is pharmacy informatics?

Modern technology is constantly transforming the field of medicine, yet there is one area that most of us have benefited from without even realizing it: pharmacy informatics. This field manages how medication-related data and technology are used to improve patient care and health outcomes. It focuses on how information is collected, stored, analyzed, and shared within healthcare systems.

The power of pharmacy informatics

This ever-growing field draws from the science of preparing, providing, and dispensing medicine–better known as pharmacy and information science to improve the expansive systems that connect a drug manufacturer, doctor, pharmacy, and most importantly, the patient.

Not only do these systems enhance the efficiency and accuracy of medication management, but they also play a crucial role in patient safety. By integrating advanced data analytics and technology, it enables healthcare professionals to make informed decisions faster and based on up-to-date information, thus reducing medication errors, and adjusting treatments plans as and when is necessary. Effective pharmacy systems make sure patients receive the right medication at the right time–improving health outcomes through a connected healthcare system.

How pharmacy informatics enhances medication management

Not that long ago, you would have to visit your doctor, and if required, they would write a script for you to take to the pharmacy and receive the required medication–it’s not a terrible system for many, but for those who can’t make it to a doctor, need regular repeats, or struggle to wait in a doctors office due to medical reasons it is not ideal, as of 2021, 94% of prescriptions in the US were E-Prescriptions, meaning they get sent directly from the doctor to the pharmacy. While it may not seem like a massive deal, the informatics required to create this country-wide system is both impressive and impactful.

E-prescribing is really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pharmacy informatics; in this exponentially growing field, technology like AI and automation is being used to collect and analyze data, flag drug interactions, send reminders, and much more.

While it may sound like a niche area, there are a range of programs like the University of Findlay online PharmD that qualify students with the specialized skills required to work in this ever-growing field.

Improving communication between healthcare providers

One of the key challenges in modern healthcare is ensuring that the many moving parts work together seamlessly and communicate effectively. For example, a patient might start by seeing their family doctor, who then refers them to a specialist, who may further involve a radiologist or lab for tests.

Pharmacy informatics plays a crucial role in this complex chain by providing real-time access to essential medication data at every step. When all healthcare providers involved have up-to-date information on the patient’s current medications, past prescriptions, and treatment history, they can make more informed decisions. On top of that, access to large data sets on what treatments have been effective for similar patients, as well as insights into the thought processes of other providers, ensures a diagnosis based on as much information as possible. This connected flow of information helps reduce errors, enhances collaboration, and ultimately leads to better health outcomes for the patient.

Real impacts

Barcode medication administration, or BCMA, is a great example of pharmacy informatics in action; in essence, it is an inventory control system that utilizes barcodes to minimize human errors in distributing prescription medications within hospitals.

BCMA systems improve medication administration by automating the verification of what is known as the “five rights” (right patient, medication, dose, route, and time) through barcode scanning, significantly reducing errors and potential adverse drug events. Integrated with electronic records for real-time documentation, BCMA also improves communication among healthcare providers and can lead to financial savings and far less legal hassle by preventing costly medication errors.

(Image credit) The role of automation in pharmacy practice

Automation is changing medicine in so many ways, and the research shows that healthcare providers are on board. They see the potential to reduce burnout, limit paperwork, and free up their valuable time.

In pharmacy practice, automation is streamlining tasks like medication dispensing, inventory management, and even prescription verification. Automated systems ensure that medications are counted, packed, and labeled accurately, minimizing the risk of human error. By handling routine tasks, automation allows pharmacists to focus more on patient care, such as counseling patients on drug interactions and side effects and collaborating with healthcare teams on treatment plans. This shift not only improves efficiency but also enhances patient safety, as automated checks and balances catch potential issues before they become problems.

The power of pharmacy informatics

Like any new field, change can be slow, and some will be slow to adopt it. Fortunately, with pharmacy informatics, the majority of health practitioners can see the benefit–because it is huge. The COVID-19 pandemic put a massive strain on frontline healthcare workers and showed just how flexible frontline health has to be; during the pandemic, E-prescriptions, online health records, and data on prescriptions allowed clinicians to make accurate decisions quickly.

Collecting and analyzing data was critical when countries needed COVID-19 tests, vaccines, medications, and much more. The ability to analyze accurate data efficiently ensured the right tests reached the right communities, those who needed the vaccine most got it first, and those at risk could be flagged–saving untold lives.

Challenges and future of pharmacy informatics

Despite its transformative potential, pharmacy informatics is not without challenges. Implementing and maintaining sophisticated systems can be costly and complex, often requiring significant investment in technology and training for staff, which takes up valuable time. A constant challenge is ensuring data security and patient privacy. As healthcare systems become increasingly digital, the risk of data breaches increases, but so do the systems protecting this valuable data as cyber security specialists constantly update defenses.

Challenges aside, the future of pharmacy informatics is promising. Advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics are expected to improve the precision and efficiency of medication management, driving better outcomes and long-term growth.

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