Glaxo Wellcome Explorer Monograph:
A Non-Practitioner Career Option for Pharmacy Graduates
Title: Pharmaceutical/Medical Informatics
Brief Description:
Pharmaceutical/Medical Informatics is the field of information science that uses computers to
analyze medical data and to distribute the results among health care professionals.
Computer-based expert systems can model the process for decision making. Practicing
professionals can exert their influence in areas such as computer assisted diagnosis,
pharmaceutical formulary development, and medical and pharmaceutical database development.
Career Challenge/Academic Preparation:
Positions in the field of Pharmaceutical/Medical Informatics generally require advanced study.
Possible alternatives include a residency, fellowship, or graduate degree in computer science. A
Ph.D. is a requirement for academic positions. The challenge is to integrate complex,
multivariable problems that include therapeutic, economic, and pharmaceutical issues. Health
care professionals, insurance companies, and governments are among those who use these
models to modify health care.
References:
Journals: (No journals are published specifically for this field.)
American Journal Health-System Pharmacy Drug Information Journal
Annals Pharmacotherapy Hospitals
Bulletin Medical Library Association Journal American Pharmaceutical Association
Computer Methods and Programs Biomedicine Methods of Information in Medicine
Initial Readings:
Miller PL, ed. Selected Topics in Medical Artificial Intelligence. NY: Springer-Verlag, 1988.
Greer ML. Rxpert: a prototype expert system for formulary decision making. The Annals
Pharmacotherapy 1992;26:244-250.
Szolovits P, Patil RS, Schwartz WB. Artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis. Annals
Internal Medicine 1988;108:80-87.
Barker KN, Allan EL, Swensson ES. Effect of technological changes in information transfer on
the delivery of pharmacy services. American Journal Pharmaceutical Education
1989;53(Winter, supp.):27S-40S.
Employment Options:
Title: Drug Utilization Review; Electronic Data Base Specialist; Research Specialist Clinical
Decision; Drug Formularies; Pharmacoinformatics; Staff Specialist Drug Wholesaler; Staff
Specialist Pharmaceutical Industry; Professor
Type of Employer: Government; Health Insurance Carrier; Academia; Chain Drug Store;
Pharmaceutical Industry; Drug Wholesaler
Pharmaceutical/Medical Informatics
Additional Readings
1. Barnett GO, Cimino JJ, et al. Dxplain an evolving diagnostic decision-support system.
JAMA 1987;258:67-74.
1. Dasta JF. Computers in critical care: opportunities and challenges DICP Annals
Pharmacotherapy 1990;24:1084-1092.
2. Kresel JJ, Hutchings HC, et al. Application of decision analysis to drug selection for
formulary addition. Hospital Formulary 1987;22:658-676.
3. Speedie SM, Palumbo FB, et al. Rule-based drug prescribing review: an operational system.
In: Reggia JA, Tuhrim S, eds. Computer-Assisted Medical Decision Making Volume 2. New
York, NY: Springer-Verlag 1985;63-72.
4. Morse ML. The compass data base. Drug Information Journal 1985;19:249-252.
5. Gardner RM. Computerized data management and decision making in critical care. Surgical
Clinics North America 1985;65(4):1041-1051.
6. Woodruff AE, Hunt CA. Involvement in medical informatics may enable pharmacists to
expand their consultation potential and improve the quality of health care. The Annals
Pharmacotherapy 1992;26:100-104.
7. Halpern NA, Thompson RE, Greenstein RS. A computerized intensive care unit order-writing
protocol. The Annals Pharmacotherapy 1992; 26:251-254.
8. Beto JA, Geraci MC, et al. Pharmacy computer prescription databases: methodologic issues
of access and confidentiality. The Annals Pharmacotherapy 1992;26:686-691.
9. Fish CA, Kirking DM, Martin JB. Information systems for evaluating the quality of
prescribing. The Annals Pharmacotherapy 1992;26:392-398.
10. Roland MO, Zander LI, et al. Evaluation of a computer assisted repeat prescribing
programme in a general practice. British Medical Journal 1985(Aug. 17);291:456-458.
11. Einarson TR, McGhan WF, Bootman JL. Decision analysis applied to pharmacy practice.
American Journal Hospital Pharmacy 1985;42:364-371.
12. Morrell, R, et al. Expert Systems. American Journal Health-System Pharmacy 1994;51(8):2022-2030.
13. Jarnigan HB. Computers + Peer Education = An Exciting Career. Tomorrow's Pharmacist 1995; 18(2):13-15.