Applications of Computers in Hospital Pharmacy and Functions of a Pharmacy Therapeutic Committee
Applications of Computers in Hospital Pharmacy
24. Describe the applications of computers in a hospital pharmacy?
Computers have transformed the healthcare industry, including hospital pharmacy practice. Here are some ways in which computers are used in hospital pharmacy practice:
- Medication Management: Computerized systems are used to manage medication administration, prescription orders, and inventory control. This system can track medication usage, monitor medication errors, and streamline medication distribution.
- Clinical Decision Support: Pharmacists use computer-based tools to help make clinical decisions regarding drug therapy. These tools provide access to patient records, drug interactions, and patient-specific information.
- Electronic Medical Records: Electronic medical records (EMRs) allow pharmacists to access patient records, including medical history, medications, allergies, and laboratory results. EMRs allow pharmacists to quickly access and review patient information, which can help to identify drug interactions and ensure appropriate medication use.
Pharmacy Therapeutic Committee (PTC)
26. Describe the Pharmacy Therapeutic Committee (PTC).
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) is a committee at a hospital or a health insurance plan that decides which drugs will appear on that entity’s drug formulary.
- The committee usually consists of healthcare providers involved in prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications, as well as administrators who evaluate medication use.
Objectives
- Ensure compliance with appropriate standards and state and federal regulations.
- The primary responsibilities of the P & T Committee are to ensure high-quality drug therapy for hospital patients, provide liaison between the medical staff and the department of pharmacy services.
Composition
- The medical superintendent – Chairman
- Chief of pharmacy services – Secretary
- One representative each from Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Surgery, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Microbiology, Department of Nursing, Department of Nutrition
27. Write the various functions of the Pharmacy Therapeutic Committee (PTC).
Function:
- Maintain the Drug Formularies to promote safety, effectiveness, and affordability according to the Formulary Principles.
- Oversight consists of the Commercial Drug Formularies, the Medicare Formulary, and the State Programs Formulary (Minnesota Health Care Programs).
- Maintain pharmacy-related medical policies that promote the safety, effectiveness, and affordability of medications used in clinic settings.
- Maintain Formulary Principles that guide the management of the Drug Formularies.
- Review new drugs, drug classes, new clinical indications, therapeutic advantages, new chemical entities, and new safety information.
- Review the Drug Formularies and therapeutic classes at least annually.
- Analyze scientific, clinical, and economic information.
Development of Clinical Pharmacy
The term”clinical pharmac” has been used since 1953. Before the 1960s, the work of a pharmacist was limited to drug-related services only (like production, compounding, distribution, sale, etc.). They were not permitted to participate in patient care. However, in the late 1960s, the status and function of pharmacists were revised and developed, and the involvement of pharmacists in patient care began.
- In India, pharmacy education started after the implementation of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, but these pharmacists were oriented towards the production, distribution, and sale of drugs.
- During the 1980s and 1990s, many cases of drug misuse, poor health outcomes, and economic loss to patients were recorded due to poor performance by both the pharmacy and medical professions. Additionally, there were not enough doctors to meet the needs of the population.
- It was then realized that pharmacists should be given the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to patient care, including pathophysiology, therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and patient counseling.
- Therefore, in 1991, the education regulations were revised, and hospital and clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, health education, drugstore and business management subjects were added to the Diploma in Pharmacy.
- To address the lack of teaching personnel for clinical pharmacy, the first Master’s in Pharmacy Practice program started at JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysore and Ooty, with the support of the Overseas Academy in 1997.
- Now, there are numerous institutions in India that offer a clinical pharmacy degree.
Poisoning
Poisoning: A poison is any substance that is harmful to your body. You might swallow it, inhale it, inject it, or absorb it through your skin. Any substance can be poisonous if too much is taken. Poisons can include:
- Prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken in doses that are too high
- Overdoses of illegal drugs
- Carbon monoxide from gas appliances
- Household products, such as laundry powder or furniture polish
- Pesticides
- Indoor or outdoor plants
- Metals such as lead and mercury
Types of poisoning:
There are several types of poisoning that can occur, depending on the substance involved and the way in which it enters the body. Here are some of the most common types of poisoning:
- Ingestion Poisoning: This occurs when someone swallows a toxic substance, either accidentally or intentionally. Examples of ingested poisons include household cleaners, medications, and poisonous plants.
- Inhalation Poisoning: This occurs when someone breathes in toxic fumes or gases, such as carbon monoxide or chlorine gas. This type of poisoning is often associated with industrial accidents, fires, and other environmental hazards.
- Injection Poisoning: This occurs when a toxic substance is injected into the body, such as through the use of contaminated needles or syringes. Injection poisoning is commonly associated with drug abuse.