Pharmaceutical applications

1. Pharmaceutical applications Patrick Bongo BSc (Hons), MSc, PGCE, MBCS

2. Introduction Pharmaceutical applications are specially designed computer programs that are used to process prescriptions, produce medication labels, check stock level, generate sales reports, order drugs and many other functions that are carried out in medication management.

3. Types of Pharmaceutical Applications The most commonly used pharmaceutical applications in the US and the UK are: • WORx • MediMAR • MediCOE • WORx Universal • JAC • Pharmacy Manager

4. WORx WORx is mainly used in hospitals and provides the following features: • Inpatient and Outpatient medication management • Stock Control (Ordering and Inventories) • Drug alerts and interactions

5. MediMAR MediMAR is another application which is mainly used in clinical settings and does contain the following features: • Electronic medication administration record • Patient’s medication profile • Stock control • Medication list • Allergies • Specific notes on medication administration or alerts

6. MediCOE MediCOE is also mainly used in clinical settings and it provides the following features: • Electronic mean of entering medication orders • Drug therapy management • Access to patients current medical profiles

7. WORx Universal This is an extension of WORx, but it web based and also used in clinical settings. Its features are: • Access to patients orders,drugs, physicians and other clinical Information • Ability to restrict access to privileged information

8. JAC JAC is mainly used in clinical settings, so far it is used in more than 80 UK NHS Trusts, representing 200+ hospitals. It has the following features: • Pharmacy stock control • Drug accounting system • Invoicing and credit handling • Ward stock issues and dispensing

9. Pharmacy Manager Pharmacy Manager is mainly used in retail and has got the following features: • Dispensing • Ordering • Prescribing • Stock control • Private prescription price calculation • Drug alerts and allergies

10. Demonstration of Processing a Prescription with PHARMACY MANAGER

11. In order to process a prescription, you click on Dispensary

12. You then type the Patient’s name (e.g. SMITH) and press on Enter from your keyboard.

13. After entering the Patient name, you are now given the prescriber’s name coming up automatically

14. Then you enter the number of items

15. You now enter the quantity

16. You now write the name of the drug and press Enter

17. Then the Dispense text box displays how it appears on the packet then you press on Enter

18. You are then given the costing details on the right of the screen

19. You then write the Directions for use

20. And you finally press on Enter in order to print the label.

21. A SAMPLE OF PHARMACY SYTEMS • Patient Medication Record System

22. Point of Sale Systems

23. References • Mediware Information Systems (2006). Mediware Products. [Online]. Available at: http://www.mediware.com/products/products.html#MedMgmt Accessed 31/10/2006. • CegedimRx Pharmacy Solutions (2006). Pharmacy Manager. [Online]. Available at: http://www.cegedimrx.co.uk/pm_dispensing.htm Accessed 31/10/2006. • Park Systems (2006). Patient Medication Records & Electronic Point of Sale. [Online]. Available at: http://www.pharmacysystems.co.uk/systems.html Accessed 31/10/2006.