Centralized computers in the pharmaceutical industry.

1. 1
CENTRALIZED COMPUTERS IN PHARMACY
Centralized Computers in Pharmacy
Ashley Toups
University of Louisiana at Monroe
25 March 2014

2. 2
CENTRALIZED COMPUTERS IN PHARMACY
Not long ago were computers introduced in pharmacies (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 188).
Computers retain complete medication profiles of patients on databases and alert of drug
interactions and allergies (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 188). Information technology is affecting
patients, pharmacists, and other physicians in many different ways (Burke &Weill, 2013, pg.
199).
A centralized system is run by a single computer system, and it does not network with
other computer systems (Yale.edu, n.d.). There are many categories of information technology
that help in the pharmacy department. A computerized physician order entry system (CPOE)
decreases errors in prescriptions, but unfortunately, for patients, dosing errors are common, and
because of this 1.5 million people are harmed per year and several thousand die each year (Burke
& Weill, 2013, pg. 188-189). Although CPOE systems might be time-consuming for clinicians,
the systems still remove many intermediary and time-consuming tasks for physicians (Niazkhani,
Pirnejad, Berg, & Aarts, 2009).
The use of these systems is expanding because of the success of robotics in Veterans
Administration pharmacies and hospitals (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 191). First the prescription is
entered into the pharmacy computer, then the robot determines the size of vial needed, counts the
tablets or capsules, prints a label to put on the vial, and then it is delivered to the pharmacist by a
conveyer belt. The pharmacist then uses a barcode reader to scan the barcode on the label to see
images of the medication and get information about the prescription. Finally, the pharmacist puts
the lid on the vial and gives it to the customer (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 191).
Telepharmacy uses a computer, a network connection, and a drug-dispensing unit.
Telepharmacy allows patients to obtain drugs outside of a traditional pharmacy like a doctor’s

3. 3
CENTRALIZED COMPUTERS IN PHARMACY
office or a clinic. The prescribing doctor sends the prescription to the pharmacy by fax or other
telecommunications link. When the pharmacist receives the prescription a signal is sent to the
remote drug cabinet to open a particular compartment (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 195). Each state
has different pharmacy regulations that could slow the expansion of telepharmacy (Burke &
Weill, 2013, pg. 196).
Rational drug design is also becoming more advanced by computer technology. One can
create graphical models of a target molecule, for which a drug can be designed. This can be done
because computers can do billions of calculations and then graphically represent the results
(Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 198).
One advantage for using information technology in pharmacy is the robots can fill
prescriptions for the pharmacist so the pharmacist can be more involved in consulting with
patients and physicians. The disadvantage is that now hospitals using robots require fewer
pharmacists (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 198). Automated drug dispensing systems reduce
dispensing errors in hospitals and drug stores. An advantage of telepharmacy for patients is they
do not need to travel long distances to consult with a pharmacist or to fill a prescription. Another
advantage of telepharmacy for pharmacists is they can serve a wider geographic area while still
not needing to fill as many prescriptions to stay in business (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 198).
A centralized system uses robots in the hospital pharmacy to fill drug orders, identify
barcodes, and deliver patient’s medications (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 198). The use of
centralized computers in pharmacy protects patients, and makes information easily available for
national and international drug studies (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg. 188). The business of
pharmacies is really evolving because of information technology (Burke & Weill, 2013, pg.
198).

4. 4
CENTRALIZED COMPUTERS IN PHARMACY
Resources:
Burke, L. & Weill, B. (2013). Information Technology for the Health Professions. New Jersey:
Pearson Education, Inc.
Niazkhani, Z., Pirnejad, H., Berg, M., & Aarts, J. (2009). Abstract. National Center for
Biotechnology Information. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705258/
Yale.edu. (n.d.) Database System Architectures [PDF document]. Retrieved from
http://codex.cs.yale.edu/avi/db-book/db4/slide-dir/ch18-2.pdf