A computer program designed to manage the informational, clinical, and
data requirements for a pharmacy oncology service is described. Speci
alized pharmacy oncology software was developed at Rhode Island Hospit
al and implemented in a multihospital, integrated health system. The s
oftware performs various safety functions, supplies on-screen access t
o pertinent drug and patient information, manages data, and assists in
the product formulation process. The programmed safeguards can be mod
ified to meet changing requirements. The system has been in use for mo
re than seven years and has helped detect prescribing errors and preve
nt preparation and administration errors. A pharmacy oncology computer
program streamlines pharmacists' work and helps prevent errors in ant
ineoplastic drug therapy.