EFFECTS OF COMPUTER-BASED PRESCRIBING ON PHARMACIST WORK PATTERNS

Objective: To measure the effect of computer-based outpatient prescrip tion writing by internal medicine physicians on pharmacist work patter ns. Design: Work sampling at a hospital-based outpatient pharmacy. Dat a were collected from pharmacists wearing silent, random-signal genera tors before and after the implementation of computer-based prescribing . Measurements: The type of work performed by pharmacists (activity), the reason for their work (function), and the people they contacted (c ontact) were measured. Results: Total staff hours and prescriptions ha ndled were similar before and after computer-based prescribing. Pharma cists recorded 4,687 observations before and 4,735 observations after implementation of computer-based outpatient prescription writing. Afte r implementation, pharmacists spent 12.9 percent more time correcting prescription problems, had 3.9 percent less idle time, and spent 2.2 p ercent less time in discussions with others. Pharmacists also spent 34 .0 percent less time filling prescriptions, 45.8 percent more time in problem-solving activities involving prescriptions, and 3.4 percent le ss time providing advice. Over 80 percent of pharmacist time was spent working alone both before and after computer-based outpatient prescri ption writing. Conclusion: Computer-based prescribing results in major changes in the type of work done by hospital-based outpatient pharmac ists and in the reason for their work and small changes in the people contacted during their work.