Integration of Health IT Systems for Medication Described
The American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) completed a survey, the ASHP Survey of U.S. Hospital and Health System Adoption & Implementation of Health Information Technology, which assessed the use of information technology tools to support delivery of patient medication. Findings, to be published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, indicated that though these systems are available, many health systems and hospitals have not integrated distinct systems. As well, there are still opportunities to acquire other IT tools to support medication management and delivery, as described in the news release from ASHP. The survey was sponsored by McKesson.
According to the the survey findings, over half of pharmacy systems are integrated with a larger suite of information technology products available from the same vendor. About a third of facilities have pharmacy systems integrated with IT tools to support medication-use offered by separate vendors. Eleven percent of those surveyed indicated that their pharmacy system was a stand-alone.
Almost 18 percent of facilities have already implemented computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems for the inpatient setting. And, half the sites that responded to the survey plan to implement such within a three year period. Over one-fifth of the facilities have e-prescribing tools used in the outpatient setting.
Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems are used in 23 percent of the facilities. This tool verifies patient identity and the accuracy of medication administration at the point-of-care. Of those without BCMA systems, 56 percent intend to implement such within the next three years.
Almost 45 percent of those surveyed indicated that some elements of electronic medical records (EMRs) are employed. Decentralized distribution systems are used by over eighty percent of the hospitals for automated storage and distribution devices. Only ten percent have robotic drug distribution systems. Among the facilities with these, the majority have 300 or more beds.
Members from the ASHP note the benefits offered by integrating information technology tools, particularly those to support medication delivery and administration. These tools offer a real opportunity to reduce the incidence of errors and improve workflow for pharmacists and nurses alike, which is lost when these tools are not integrated to operate collectively.
March 3, 2008 Related topics: Standards, Quality, Safety, Errors, Pharmaceuticals