Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
When I started working in genomics a decade ago, I got a crash course in informatics and the role of point-of-care clinical decision tools to avoid medication errors. Many leading genomics researchers hold the position that widespread use of clinical decision support in the EHR is essential for the routine adoption of genomic data for safer prescribing decisions. At that time, I didn’t fully appreciate its value. I naively thought that the costs would outweigh the benefits for many health care systems.
Fast forward a decade and I am now fully supportive of using point-of-care alerts and automated messaging within the EHR to advance practice and avoid medication errors. This month’s Pharmacy Today cover story delves into this topic and provides other examples of technology to improve patient safety. From robotics to expanded use of barcodes and radio frequency ID (RFID) tagging, technology is making our pharmacies safer in all practice settings. And, counterintuitively, this is especially true if you practice in a smaller, less busy, or rural area where some tasks are not performed routinely. Rita Jew, PharmD, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices points out that if you don’t do something that often, such as sterile compounding for example, it is even more important to rely on technology whenever possible to ensure that process is done safely.
In this issue of Today, you’ll also find the latest on newly approved drugs, learn more about benefits of tea tree oil, and get an update on the potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in treating addiction. Read about whether FDA will reevalute a boxed warning on antidepressants based on newly published data, widening use of ECG monitors, and catch up on your CPE credit with this month’s article reviewing the year’s pharmacy law developments.
We know that unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of injury and avoidable harm in health care systems across the world. While technology is not a quick fix for all types of medication errors, the time is now to embrace its use in preventing medication misadventures whenever appropriate in your practice setting.
Have a great Today! ■