A survey of hospitals with computerized incorporation of the pharmacy patient profile and medication administration record.
A survey was distributed in 1985 to 48 hospitals throughout the United States known to have a single-source computer-generated pharmacy patient profile and medication administration record. The study centered on staff attitude toward this single source concept, time and staff requirements when compared to traditional methods of record keeping, and how up-to-the-minute information is disseminated between pharmacy and nursing. A major issue of consideration is the ability of such a system to maintain a method of checks and balances as far as reference to and interpretation of physicians' orders. The investigation revealed that 85% of the respondents felt that the checks and balances remains intact even though one party, nursing or pharmacy, is responsible for data entry that is used by both departments during the medication cycle. More than 88% of the returned surveys included a recommendation that such systems be adopted. Increased efficiency, maintainence of accuracy, and less time spent in dealing with discrepancies when compared with the duplicative manual process of order transcribing and profiling make transition to computerization an acceptable alternative. The information provided is subjective.
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003625:Data Collection; D004526:Efficiency; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital