COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR PHARMACY ONCOLOGY SERVICES

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.