Computer systems planning, development, and impact assessment.

Abstract

In this final installment of a 12-article series on managing computer systems for the hospital pharmacy department, contemporary issues related to the topic of the series are discussed. Assessment of institutional strategy for acquiring systems and determining the departmental direction is reviewed. The far-reaching impact of computerization on personnel staffing and job functions is discussed. The results of a telephone survey of 23 pharmacy computer system vendors that had at least one installation of a unit dose and i.v. admixture system are also presented. Because of the current and future widespread use of computers, pharmacists must acquire knowledge of computer systems.