How technology you use enhance internal and external communications between pharmacists, technicians, physicians
1. What type of technology (technologies) does your pharmacy utilize?
2. How does the technology you use enhance internal and external communications between pharmacists, technicians, physicians, advanced medical care providers, and nurses?
3. Describe the process from the time the pharmacy receives an order to the time the medication is dispensed?
4. What are some of the processes or policies that are implemented to ensure patient safety?
5. What challenges, related to the use of technology and electronic information, have you experienced? What solutions have you implemented, or changes have you made in your practice to address these challenges?
6. How has informatics helped and/or hindered patient education and awareness?
Sample Solution
The pharmacy that I work for utilizes a number of technologies to enhance communication between pharmacists, technicians, physicians, advanced medical care providers, and nurses. These technologies include:- Electronic health records (EHRs). EHRs allow healthcare professionals to access patient information from any location. This makes it easier for pharmacists to communicate with other healthcare professionals about a patient's medication history and current medications.
Full Answer Section
- Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing). E-prescribing allows pharmacists to receive prescriptions electronically from physicians. This eliminates the need for paper prescriptions, which can help to reduce errors and improve communication between pharmacists and physicians.
- Clinical decision support (CDS) systems. CDS systems provide pharmacists with real-time information about a patient's medication history, allergies, and potential drug interactions. This information can help pharmacists to make better decisions about medication therapy and to communicate more effectively with other healthcare professionals.
- Telepharmacy. Telepharmacy allows pharmacists to provide medication therapy management services to patients who live in rural or remote areas. This technology can help to improve communication between pharmacists and patients, and it can also help to reduce medication errors.
- Barcode scanning. Barcode scanning helps to ensure that the correct medications are dispensed to the correct patients. This technology can help to reduce medication errors and to improve communication between pharmacists and technicians.
- EHRs: EHRs allow pharmacists to quickly and easily access patient information, such as their medication history and current medications. This information can be used to identify potential drug interactions and to make sure that patients are receiving the correct medications.
- e-prescribing: e-prescribing eliminates the need for paper prescriptions, which can help to reduce errors and improve communication between pharmacists and physicians. For example, if a physician e-prescribes a medication that is contraindicated for a patient, the pharmacist will be notified immediately. This allows the pharmacist to communicate with the physician and to resolve the issue before the medication is dispensed.
- CDS systems: CDS systems provide pharmacists with real-time information about a patient's medication history, allergies, and potential drug interactions. This information can help pharmacists to make better decisions about medication therapy and to communicate more effectively with other healthcare professionals. For example, if a CDS system flags a potential drug interaction, the pharmacist can communicate with the patient's physician to discuss the best course of action.
- Telepharmacy: Telepharmacy allows pharmacists to provide medication therapy management services to patients who live in rural or remote areas. This technology can help to improve communication between pharmacists and patients, and it can also help to reduce medication errors. For example, a pharmacist can use telepharmacy to talk to a patient about their medication regimen and to answer any questions that they may have.
- Barcode scanning: Barcode scanning helps to ensure that the correct medications are dispensed to the correct patients. This technology can help to reduce medication errors and to improve communication between pharmacists and technicians. For example, if a technician scans a barcode and the wrong medication is dispensed, the pharmacist will be notified immediately. This allows the pharmacist to communicate with the technician and to correct the error before the medication is given to the patient.