Systems Interaction and Interfacing

Pharmacist Computer Interactions

 There are many different types of softwares used in
health care information
Software
 Can be a simple, unchangeable system programs solely
designed to operate a piece of equipment or medical
device
 Or it can be a complex application designed for data,
entry, storage and retrieval of information
Key Points
 The primary interaction hospital pharmacists have with
software is directing the latter to perform various tasks via
the user interface on the dispensing screen of the computer
and device
 Examples of interactions
 Programming Infusion Rates
 Entering Orders
 Entering Compounding Volumes
 Extracting Reports from Various equipment, devices and
system
Pharmacy Information System
Computerized Prescriber Order Entry System (CPOE)
Access to and Use of Information
 One of the most important aspects of any information
system is the benefit it provides an organization in terms
of accurate and efficient information storage and retrieval
 Three TIERS of modern software systems
 Client Tier  the user interacts with the system
 Application Tier  the software stored in the local
machine
 Database Tier  contains the database tables where
information is stored as a result of user input into the
applications user interface
Integrating Information System with Work
Activities
Methods of Integrating Information System into existing
Pharmacy Processes
1. Pharmacy Information Storage (PIS)
 Most widely used
 Backbone of Pharmacy work activities
 Automates and organizes the daily workflow in
coordinating its many clinical functions
 PIS databases allow the pharmacy department to sort
and perform work activities in batches based upon
 Patient location
 Types of meds
 Anticipated administration time
Integrating Information System with Work
Activities
PIS-Generated Medication Administration Records (MARs)
 Helps nurse organize activities related to medication
administration
 Provides nurses with sufficient information to safely and
accurately administer medications to patients according
to the time schedule desired by the prescriber
Integrating Information System with Work
Activities
The Pharmacy department is the recipient of a large
proportion of physician orders.
Pharmacy orders can be:
a. Handwritten or electronic
b. Individual or grouped
c. Entered by physicians or physician’s agent
d. Delivered manually, via fax machine, thru document
imaging technology
Integrating Information System with Work
Activities
• Once orders are delivered to the Pharmacy, it is the
pharmacist’s responsibility to:
• Ensure that the orders are reviewed for the
appropriateness of therapy
• Accurately placed on the patient’s electronic profile in
the PIS
Computerized prescriber-entered orders that are
delivered to the pharmacy via printer or electronic
interface to a PIS are more likely to be legible,
complete and delivered in a timely manner when
compared to handwritten orders
Information Security and Confidentiality
Information Security
 A reasonable protection from risk of loss, risk of
inappropriate access or doubt regarding the authenticity
of the information
Data Security Concerns
A. Confidentiality  ensures that the data is readable only
to the intended recipients
B. Authentication  provides protection against
unauthorized access or forgeries
C. Non repudiation  ensures that someone cannot deny
having conducted a transaction
Information Security and Confidentiality
Vulnerabilities and Threats to Information Security
 Internal failures of hardware or software
 Human errors
 Deliberate attacks on information security
 Natural catastrophes

Pharmacists responsible for informatics must ensure that

security design in all information systems
 Supports prevention
 Detect and correct vulnerabilities to threats
Information Security and Confidentiality
Approaches to Securing Information
1. Ensure that the physical location where servers are
stored has been secured
2. Access to a network should be limited to those who need
it and control must be exercised by a combination of
security methods
Passwords  ubiquitous in computer systems but do not
provide a positive identification
Biometrics  Fingerprint recognition; Retinal Scanning 
more positive authentication of the individual
Thank You!!!!
Take Home Exam (Final Exam)
1. Describe the different methods by which orders can be
created and transmitted to the pharmacy department.

2. Contrast the advantages and disadvantages of

integration using an “”all-in-one” integrated
CPOE/Pharmacy Information system versus use of an
interfaced system.

3. Explain the rationale for coding information in CPOE

systems where the use of clinical decision support will
be used.
Short Bond Paper
Cite Sources
Deadline: March 24, 2014 Tuesday, 4PM