Introduction to Applications of Computers in Pharmacy
Unit 3 is the most practical and relevant unit for pharmacy students. It covers all the ways computers are actively transforming pharmaceutical practice – from Electronic Prescribing to Automated Dispensing to computerized PharmacoKinetics analysis. These are the tools you will use every day as a modern pharmacist.
Syllabus & Topics
- 1Drug Information Storage and Retrieval: Drug databases, PubMed, Micromedex.
- 2Pharmacokinetics: Mathematical models in drug design using computers.
- 3Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy: Computerized physician order entry (CPOE), pharmacy management systems.
- 4Electronic Prescribing and Discharge (EP) systems: e-Prescriptions and their benefits.
- 5Barcode Medicine Identification: How barcodes prevent medication errors.
- 6Automated Dispensing of Drugs: Automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs).
- 7Mobile Technology and Adherence Monitoring: Apps for patient medication compliance.
- 8Diagnostic Systems: Computer-aided diagnostic tools.
- 9Lab-diagnostic Systems: Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) for electronic lab results.
- 10Patient Monitoring System: Electronic patient records (EHR/EMR).
- 11Pharma Information System: Drug regulatory databases (FDA, CDSCO).
Learning Objectives
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is Electronic Prescribing (e-Prescribing)?
Electronic Prescribing (e-Prescribing) is the electronic generation and direct transmission of prescriptions from prescribers to pharmacies. It reduces medication errors, improves prescription legibility, and enables automatic drug–drug interaction checking.
Q2. How do computers help in Pharmacokinetics?
Computers analyze patient-specific data (e.g., blood drug levels, renal function) to calculate individualized drug dosages using pharmacokinetic (PK) models such as compartmental models. Software like NONMEM and PK-Sim is commonly used in drug development and dose optimization.
Q3. What is an Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC)?
An Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC) (e.g., Pyxis by BD) is a computerized medication storage and dispensing system used in hospitals. It controls, tracks, and documents medication distribution to nursing units, enhancing security and reducing medication errors.
Q4. What is an EHR?
An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a comprehensive digital record of a patient’s medical history that can be accessed across multiple healthcare settings. In contrast, an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is typically limited to a single clinic or hospital.
Q5. How does barcode scanning reduce medication errors?
Barcode scanning verifies medication administration by scanning the patient’s ID bracelet and the drug barcode at the bedside. This ensures compliance with the “5 Rights”: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time before administration.