Technology Adoption Up in Health-System Pharmacies

The adoption of new technology in health-system pharmacies increased in 2011, according to the 2011 American Society of Health System Pharmacists National Survey of Pharmacy Practice in Hospital Settings 2011, published in the May edition of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.

The researchers surveyed pharmacy directors at 1401 US general and children’s medical-surgical hospitals, with about 40% of participants responding. Respondents noted a continuing decentralization of the medication-use system. Approximately 40% of participants reported using a decentralized medication use system, and 58% of participants reported plans to use a similar system in the future.

The shift toward automated dispensing continues as well, with 89% of participants reporting using automated dispensing systems, 11% using robots, and 18% using carousels. In addition, 34% of hospitals reported using machine-readable coding to verify doses before dispensing. Bar code— assisted medication administration was reported by 50% of responding participants, the report found.

In addition, Medication Administration Records continue to become computerized, with 67% of participants reporting their use. Meanwhile, 67% of hospitals reported implementing electronic health records either partially or completely, and 49% of hospitals have computerized prescriber order entry.