The Evolving Role of Pharmacists in Health InformaticsMelody Cruz, Minh Le

Class of 2018

Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Rangel College of Pharmacy – Kingsville, TX

Project Overview

The role of the pharmacist in the health-

system informatics setting will be

investigated to determine the importance of

informatics in the pharmacy profession.

Examples of informatics technology used in

the pharmacy setting will be noted.

Background

Informatics is a science made up of three

components: computer technology,

content, and social context12. It is an

evolving field that focuses on analytics,

delivery of information and knowledge, and

links information technology to improve

patient care2. Two types of pharmacy

informatics exist: clinical and operational14.

Organizations are investing significant

amounts of resources for health

information technology (HIT) as this allows

greater precision and safety in patient

care2,1. According to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, employment of health information

specialists is projected to grow 22 percent

through 2022.

References1. "Informatics and the Health-System Pharmacist." ASHP InterSections. 14 June 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

2. "ASHP Statement on the Pharmacist's Role in Clinical Informatics." American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 72.7 (2015): 579-81. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

3. Aycox, Preston. "Defining Biomedical Informatics - UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics." Defining Biomedical Informatics. UT Health: School of Biomedical Informatics, 25 July 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

4. Bates, David W., Michael Cohen, Lucian L. Leape, Marc Overhage, M. Michael Shabot, and Thomas Sheridan. "Reducing the Frequency of Errors in Medicine Using Information Technology." Journal of the American Medical Informatics

Association 8.4 (2001): 299-308. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

5. Belden, Heidi. "Pharmacy Informatics: New Role for Pharmacists." Drug Topics: Voice of the Pharmacist. ModernMedicine Network, 20 Jan. 2003. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

6. Clauson, Kevin. How Informatics Will Change the Future of Pharmacy. Health & Medicine, 28 Apr. 2010. PPT.

7. Dreischulte, Tobias, Peter Donnan, Aileen Grant, Adrian Hapca, Colin Mccowan, and Bruce Guthrie. "Safer Prescribing — A Trial of Education, Informatics, and Financial Incentives." New England Journal of Medicine N Engl J Med 374.11

(2016): 1053-064. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

8. Figge, Helen L. "Embracing Pharmacy Technology." USPharmacist.com. 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

9. Fox, B. I., C. A. Pedersen, and K. F. Gumpper. "ASHP National Survey on Informatics: Assessment of the Adoption and Use of Pharmacy Informatics in U.S. Hospitals--2013." American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 72.8 (2015): 636-55.

Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

10.Fox, Brent I., Allen J. Flynn, Christopher R. Fortier, and Kevin A. Clauson. "Knowledge, Skills, and Resources for Pharmacy Informatics Education." Am J Pharm Educ American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 75.5 (2011): 93. Web. 17

Mar. 2016.

11.Lawrence, Sarah M. "Career Spotlight: Pharmacy Informatics - Student Doctor Network." Student Doctor Network. 12 Dec. 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

12.Pawola, Lawrence. "The Role of the Pharmacist in Health Informatics." The Role of the Pharmacist in Health Informatics. University of Illinois at Chicago. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

13.Philip, Ben. What Is Pharmacy Informatics? Health & Medicine, 17 Mar. 2011. PPT.

14.Van Ornum, Michael T., and George Robinson. "Transitioning into Pharmacy Informatics." Pharmacy Informatics Career. HIMSS Career Services, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

Conclusion

A trained pharmacist who understands

the concepts of informatics can aid in

the continuous improvement of clinical

information systems2.

A core level of informatics knowledge

will become required of all pharmacists

in order to be successful in the evolving

pharmacist practice model. With new

technological advancements, there will

likely be a shift to those skilled in

hospital information system

development, management, and

effectiveness5,11.

Pharmacy informatics allows the

pharmacist to expand their roles into

operational (technical systems) or

clinical (reports) informatics14.

Hypothesis

Pharmacists have knowledge, background,

training, and responsibility from clinical

experiences which makes them the ideal

candidate to take on significant roles in

clinical informatics and bridge the gap

between information systems and clinical

experiences.

Results

There has been an increase in the percentage of pharmacists being given the ability to document

and make recommendations in EMRs.

A number of institutions are moving towards a paperless system (“complete EMR system”).

Discussion

Pharmacists are starting to have access

to view EMRs in order to manage

medication therapy9.

Pharmacists are equipped with the

clinical training and medication

knowledge that enables them to

effectively develop, implement, test, and

maintain systems that help healthcare

teams in patient care11.

Through the use of informatics, there

have been reductions in the rates of

high-risk prescribing, leading to safer

medication management4,7.

One major advantage is the safety net

by moving toward a paperless system,

without scattered papers or illegible

writings1.

Data: Collected from

the 2007 and 2013

ASHP national surveys

on informatics:

Assessment of the

adoption and use of

pharmacy informatics

in U.S. hospitals9

*EMR = Electronic

Medical Record

Problem/Question

What is the role of the pharmacist in the

incorporation of health-system informatics

in health-system pharmacies?

Pharmacist Roles in Informatics2

1. Data, information, and knowledge

management

2. Information and knowledge delivery

3. Practice analytics

4. Applied Clinical Informatics

5. Leadership and management of change

Informatics in the Pharmacy Setting

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Electronic Prescribing (ePrescribing)

Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE)

Medication Reconciliation

Bar-Code Medication Administration (BCMA)

Automated Compounding Devices