title: Technology and automation in pharmaceutical care.
abstract: Pharmacy computer systems in the future will help pharmacists assess patients' medication needs, evaluate drug therapy, and manage patient information. Technology companies are developing systems for automatic dispensing and for distributing medications from nurses' stations in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Bar codes are being used in medication dispensing, verifying prescriptions, selecting patient brochures, and screening for drug interactions. Pharmacies in the future will rely on information networks to store, manage, and communicate patient information. Drug use review databases offer highly developed drug therapy screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Care Systems, School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Ala, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Felkey
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics; D010604:Pharmacy / Q000639:trends*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000639:trends*