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Pharmacy Informatics Syllabus

Last update: 6/29/2008
Preceptor:
Nicholas A. Coblio, BSPharm, MSEM, PhD(candidate)
Pharmacy Manager for MIS/QA
James A Haley VA Hospital
Tampa, Fl
(813) 978-5804

General Information: The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) uses the following as its definition of medical informatics."Medical informatics has to do with all aspects of understanding and promoting the effective organization, analysis, management, and use of information in health care." Our definition of pharmacy informatics will apply this to pharmacy related subject matter.

In a single, one month, rotation the student can not be expected to learn all of the tools and techniques needed to be able to organize, analyze, manage and use information. The preceptor will provide a framework within which the student can develop at least a basic understanding of the concepts and then allow the student to explore an area in dept.

Organization: Organization of information does not require a computer. However the computer greatly enhances the ability to organize diverse data elements into useful information. This will include:

• Design and creation of pharmacy databases.
• Learn how to develop system requirements for pharmacy automation.
• Work breakdown and system design.

Analysis: Analysis of information includes the ability to draw useful, actionable, knowledge from diverse pieces of information. For example, the fact that the sky has a reddish glow at sundown is nice to know but useless by its self. If also know that red light is deflected least by moisture, we could presume that a red tinge to the sunset would mean the light is traveling though a high concentration of dust particles and dry air, which in turn implies high pressure, stable air. Stable, high pressure areas are generally harbingers of fair weather. At this point we have transformed pieces of information into something which is useful or actionable, i.e. it might be a good day to get the car washed or go on a picnic. We also now know "Red sky at night, sailors' delight"

Analysis will include, but not be limited to:

• Learn to use data mining and OLAP tools on large data sets.
• Matching vendor features to system automation requirements.
• Learn to use and apply statistical methodologies to large data sets.
• Developing features and capabilities matrices.

Management: The management of information includes those aspects of informatics involved with both data validation and data security. The student will learn:

• Use of appropriate tools to insure detection and removal of malware.
• Techniques to validate data accuracy and detect error.
• Appropriate system safeguards for open systems.
• The roll of social engineering in system breeches.
• Roll and use of VLAN's for system access.

Use: Use of information includes the ability to rapidly disseminate information. One mechanism for this would be utilization of the World Wide Web. Use also refers to applied use of information on either a macro level or on a micro level. An example of the former would be how to best select a particular system based on a series of specifications. An example of the micro application would be how best to tailor therapy for a particular patient based on data extracted from the electronic record. Training will include:

• Basic training in web design and web page authoring.
• Use of forums and blogs to disseminate information.
• Information synthesis from raw data.

Pharmacy Automation: Modern pharmacy practice involves a great deal of automation. The electronic medical record and pharmacy robotics, from automated dispensing systems to robotic delivery systems are rapidly becoming the norm in larger facilities. The resident will get "hands on" experience with:

• Electronic order entry and patient record systems.
• Automated dispensing systems such as Pyxis® and ScriptPro®
• Robotic delivery systems such as the Tug®

Project: The student will be expected to work on a pharmacy related, information oriented project. In addition to their own project, the students will be expected to participate in current research activity of the preceptor. These projects currently include:

• Comparison of US and European dispensing practice and general work environment for the pharmacist. (work and job design)
• Use of data warehouses and data mining to evaluate medication use and effectiveness.

Presentation: The student will be expected to make a 30 minute presentation to pharmacy staff regarding some aspects of informatics. The topic for discussion must be mutually agreeable to both the student and preceptor.

Week 1:

1. Overview of informatics.
2. Review the history and use of the internet.
3. Components of the internet
4. A review of international and US copyright laws as they pertain to use of the internet and web pages.
5. Search engines and using them for health related searches.
6. Evaluation of information to determine reliability.
7. Intro to HTML (writing web pages).
8. Sources for web tools, including HTML editors and other tools to facilitate use of the internet.
9. Intro to information gathering and analysis.
10. Determine topics for project and presentation. They can be related.

Week 2:

1. Begin work on project and presentation.
2. Intro to data warehouse.
3. Intro to data mining.
4. Continued work with web design, including tables and forms.

Week 3:

1. Project/presentation status report.
2. Management of Information including validation and security.
3. social engineering and malware.
4. malware detection and elimination.

Week 4:

1. Finish project and presentation.
2. Presentation to staff on some aspect of informatics.
3. Final Project review and grading.