Information Systems Evolution
Information Systems; Computerized Pharmacy Evolution
Within the past decade, there has been much advancement in technology that is changing the way health care is providing for its patients. Information technologies such as bar coding, personal health records and computerized pharmacy have changed the way health care workers organize patient medical records. In this brief essay, one will learn how the invention and use of computerized pharmacy information has changed health care as a whole, good and bad.
History of Computerized Pharmacy In 1966, the basic computerized information system (CIS) was integrated with an automated hospital information system (AHIS) by the office of Veterans Affairs. This first AHIS as intended to automate manual tasks performed within all VA hospitals. This early AHIS included functions such as order entry, transmission and included subsystems that included a pharmacy. Over the next ten years, updated CIS systems were developed however; many had trouble staying afloat with the ever changing clinical needs in health care. During the 1970s and 1980s, entrepreneurs and pharmacists began developing independent information systems that were designed specifically to meet pharmaceutical needs in health care settings. Initially, pharmacy information technology was developed to manage the immediate needs of the pharmacy and staff, and to provide data for the growing number of requirements for unit doses per medical unit. Computer information systems were not the most developed programs during this period of time, and because of this, most medical facilities invested in the “best-of-breed” mainframe or stand-alone pharmacy information systems. A request for proposal purchasing process was used throughout facilities to purchase these mainframes. In the late 1980s to mid 1990s, mainframe-based integrated CISs began to intrigue medical facility administrators whom were seeking a greater integration quality in their
Within the past decade, there has been much advancement in technology that is changing the way health care is providing for its patients. Information technologies such as bar coding, personal health records and computerized pharmacy have changed the way health care workers organize patient medical records. In this brief essay, one will learn how the invention and use of computerized pharmacy information has changed health care as a whole, good and bad.
History of Computerized Pharmacy In 1966, the basic computerized information system (CIS) was integrated with an automated hospital information system (AHIS) by the office of Veterans Affairs. This first AHIS as intended to automate manual tasks performed within all VA hospitals. This early AHIS included functions such as order entry, transmission and included subsystems that included a pharmacy. Over the next ten years, updated CIS systems were developed however; many had trouble staying afloat with the ever changing clinical needs in health care. During the 1970s and 1980s, entrepreneurs and pharmacists began developing independent information systems that were designed specifically to meet pharmaceutical needs in health care settings. Initially, pharmacy information technology was developed to manage the immediate needs of the pharmacy and staff, and to provide data for the growing number of requirements for unit doses per medical unit. Computer information systems were not the most developed programs during this period of time, and because of this, most medical facilities invested in the “best-of-breed” mainframe or stand-alone pharmacy information systems. A request for proposal purchasing process was used throughout facilities to purchase these mainframes. In the late 1980s to mid 1990s, mainframe-based integrated CISs began to intrigue medical facility administrators whom were seeking a greater integration quality in their
References: Chaffee, Bruce., Bonasso, Josephine. (2004). Strategies for Pharmacy Integration and Pharmacy Information Systems Interfaces, Part I: History and Pharmacy Integration Options. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 2004-03-01. Kaboli, Peter J., McClimon, Brad J., Hoth, Angela., Barnett, Mitchell. (2004). Assessing the Accuracy of Computerized Medication Histories. The American Journal of Managed Care. 2004-11 Salemi, Charles., Singleton, Norvella. (2007). Decreasing Medication Discrepancies Between Outpatient and Inpatient Care Through the Use of Computerized Pharmacy Data. The Permanente Journal. 2007; Vol. 11 No. 2