Current status of pharmacist-operated drug information centers in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
Pharmacist-operated drug information centers (DICs) in the United States and Puerto Rico were surveyed, and the results were compared with those of similar surveys conducted over the past 30 years.


METHODS
In January 2003, surveys were mailed to 151 institutions that were thought to have an organized DIC, defined as a center that regularly accepts a broad scope of requests from health care professionals, regardless of the location or affiliation of those professionals. The survey covered such topics as affiliations, staffing, services, resources, quality assurance, involvement in education, and funding.


RESULTS
One hundred nineteen DICs responded (79%), of which 81 met the criteria. Hospitals and medical centers and colleges and schools of pharmacy continued to be the most commonly reported affiliations. The number of DICs declined in the past decade, and the number of DIC pharmacists and other personnel was the lowest reported in the past 30 years. Drug information pharmacists appeared to be better trained than in the past, and a larger percentage had advanced degrees. Services provided by DICs remained consistent with previous findings, except for greater participation in the training and education of pharmacy students and residents. The resource most commonly reported by DICs as useful was Micromedex Healthcare Series, followed by MEDLINE and AHFS Drug Information. The percentage of DICs with formal quality assurance programs did not change significantly in the past decade. Funding sources and fee-for-service activities remained the same.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of DICs has declined steadily since 1986, and the number of drug information pharmacists is at its lowest in 30 years. DIC services continue to be comprehensive. Only half of the DICs surveyed had a formal quality assurance program.
Rosenberg
Jack M
JM
International Drug Information Center, Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University (LIU), Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. j666666@attglobal.net
Koumis
Tina
T
Nathan
Joseph P
JP
Cicero
Lorraine A
LA
McGuire
Howard
H
D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D007990:Libraries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011647:Puerto Rico; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data