HEALTH SYSTEM INFORMATICS

The application of informatics in a health system in general and to ph armacy in particular is discussed. Informatics is the use of informati on technology to enhance the quality of care, facilitate accountabilit y, and assist in cost containment. Tying the pieces of health care int o a seamless system using informatics principles yields a more rationa l approach to caregiving. A four-layer hierarchy of information system s can be found in any health system: layer 1, the foundational layer f ormed by a transaction-processing system; 2, the management informatio n system; 3, decision support; and 4, advanced informatics application s such as expert systems. Other industries appear to be ahead of healt h care in investing in informatics applications. Pharmacy is one of th e key health care professions that must adopt informatics. A stepwise structure for pharmacy informatics has been proposed; it consists of e stablishing a relationship with the patient, establishing a database, listing and ranking problems, choosing among alternatives, and plannin g and monitoring. Informatics should be approached by determining wher e the department is going strategically. Informatics standards will be needed. Pharmacists will need to use informatics to enhance their wor th on the health care team and to improve patient care.