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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