APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTERS IN HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Computers are widely used in hospital pharmacy due to increasing information needs, requirement for online prescription verification, and the need for fast and accurate data access.
They help in reducing paperwork, improving efficiency, and managing pharmacy operations effectively.
Maintenance of Records:
- Patient details
- Admission and discharge data
- Medication orders
Medication order entries include:
- Drug name and code
- Dose and strength
- Route of administration
- Start and stop date
- Physician and pharmacist details
Patient Medication Profile:
- Patient name, age, contact
- Medical history
- Allergies
- Drug history
- Dosage instructions
Importance:
- Helps in better treatment decisions
- Prevents drug interactions
Medication Administration Record (MAR):
Benefits:
- Saves time and cost
- Improves patient safety
- Helps doctors in prescribing
- Prevents adverse drug reactions
Inventory Control:
Computers help manage drug stock efficiently.
Techniques used:
- Perpetual inventory system
- Stock level setting (maximum, minimum, reorder, danger)
- Inventory records for audit
- Measuring inventory value
- Identifying fast-moving items
Medication Monitoring:
Pharmacokinetic applications:
- Calculate drug levels
- Determine dose and timing
Non-pharmacokinetic applications:
- Detect drug interactions
- Identify allergies
Drug Information and Data Retrieval:
- MEDLARS
- MEDLINE
Advantages:
- Fast information access
- Accurate data
- Supports clinical decisions
Hospital and Retail Pharmacy Applications:
Clerical functions:
- Prescription labeling
- Billing
- Inventory updates
- Payroll
Managerial functions:
- Sales reports
- Profit analysis
- Staff scheduling
Professional functions:
- Patient profile creation
- Drug interaction alerts
- Drug utilization monitoring
Electronic Health Records (EHR):
EHR is a digital record of patient health information.
Components:
- Patient details
- Medical history
- Medication list
- Lab reports
- Vaccination records
Advantages:
- Easy access
- Improves safety
- Reduces errors
- Enhances communication
- Saves time and cost
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Requires training
- Data sharing issues
Software Used in Hospital Pharmacy:
- Guardian Plus
- EHR software
- DCA 2000
- CoaguCheck
- CardioPharm
- Medical billing software
- Hospital management software
- E-prescribing software
- Equipment management software
- Research software (PubMed)
- Telemedicine software
- TDM software (WinNONLIN)
Dr. Saint Paul is a pharmacy educator, Pharm.D graduate, and academic content creator from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK), where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree between 2015 and 2021.
He has more than 7 years of experience creating pharmacy educational content, writing study materials, and reviewing academic articles for pharmacy students. He has also contributed guest articles to pharmacy education platforms, including PharmD Guru.
At D.PharmGuru, his work focuses on simplifying complex Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharmacy) subjects into easy-to-understand notes, practical explanations, and exam-oriented educational resources for students across India.
His areas of focus include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, and other core D.Pharmacy subjects.
