Drug Information Services
Introduction
The term "drug information" was developed in the early 1960s and used in conjunction with the word "center" and "specialist".
- Over time, the specific functions of drug information evolved.
Answering Queries
Nonetheless, the bread-and-butter of drug information services (DIS) is answering enquiries from hospital-based healthcare professionals as well as from the general public.
- Listen to the enquirer carefully and get their name and number.
- When answering drug information questions, it is important to obtain the background information including pertinent patient factors, disease factors and medication-related factors to determine the true question.
- Knowing the most appropriate reference to utilise in dfferent cases is equally important.
As you start answering more complex enquiries, you may realise the resources provide conflicting answers.
- For example, the use of a particular drug in pregnancy is often a risk-benefit decision taken by the prescriber.
Important Functions
Today, drug information services include
- Supporting clinical services with drug information
- Answering questions regarding medications from patients and health care professionals
- Coordinating pharmacy and therapeutics committee activity
- Developing and educating health care professionals on medication-use policies
- Critically evaluating the literature to make formulary and patient-specific decisions (e.g. drug monograph, class review)
- Providing poison information
- Publishing or editing information on appropriate medication use through newsletters, journal columns, websites, e-mail, social media, etc.
- Providing education (e.g. in-services, classes, experiential education, journal club) for health care professionals, students, and patients.
- Participating in health outcome initiatives
- Coordinating formulary management initiatives
- Developing criteria/guidelines for medication use
- Analysing the clinical and economic impact of drug policy decisions
- Managing medication-use evaluation and other quality assurance/improvement activities
- Managing drug shortages
- Managing investigational medication use (e.g., institutional review board activities, information for practitioners)
- Coordinating of adverse drug event reporting and monitoring programs (e.g. adverse medication reactions and medication errors)
- Consulting on pharmacy informatics projects in the health care system setting
- Ensuring and implementing changes to medication-use policies and formulary decisions via informatics system
NOTE: For detailed information regarding these activities, you may read up Drug Information A Guide for Pharmacists.
Summary
Apart from answering queries from health care professionals, DIS department plays important roles in drug policy decisions and medication safety.
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