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

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.

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

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

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

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

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, Access to patients orders,drugs, physicians and other clinical Information Ability to restrict access to Ability to restrict access to privileged information

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 Pharmacy stock control Drug accounting system Drug accounting system Invoicing and credit handling Invoicing and credit handling Ward stock issues and dispensing Ward stock issues and dispensing

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

Demonstration of Processing a Prescription with PHARMACY MANAGER

In order to process a prescription, you click on Dispensary

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

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

Then you enter the number of items

You now enter the quantity

You now write the name of the drug and press Enter

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

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

You then write the Directions for use

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

A SAMPLE OF PHARMACY SYTEMS Patient Medication Record System Patient Medication Record System

Point of Sale Systems Point of Sale Systems

References Mediware Information Systems (2006). Mediware Products. [Online]. Available at: Mediware Information Systems (2006). Mediware Products. [Online]. Available at: Accessed 31/10/2006. CegedimRx Pharmacy Solutions (2006). Pharmacy Manager. [Online]. Available at: CegedimRx Pharmacy Solutions (2006). Pharmacy Manager. [Online]. Available at: Accessed 31/10/2006. Park Systems (2006). Patient Medication Records & Electronic Point of Sale. [Online]. Available at: Park Systems (2006). Patient Medication Records & Electronic Point of Sale. [Online]. Available at: Accessed 31/10/2006.