Evaluation of IV compatibility microcomputer software programs.

Four microcomputer software programs that contain IV compatibility information were evaluated using specific criteria for these programs. This article compares scope of coverage, quality of clinical documentation, frequency updates, and clinical performance for these programs. There are no excellent IV compatibility programs. Of the programs tested, Micromedex performed the best. Therapeutic Software is not considered a comprehensive IV compatibility program. IV-Check PC and Medicom Micro performed equally well.

Drug interaction microcomputer software evaluation: the Medical Letter Drug Interactions Program.

The Medical Letter Drug Interactions Program was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning, and use were rated excellent. The user documentation and technical support were good. The quality of the clinical documentation was excellent. The scope of coverage and overall clinical performance were good. The frequency of updates is fair. The primary advantages of the program are low costs and fast, reliable screening tool for drug interactions.

Unit dose pharmacy workload forecasting: validation of the pharmacy service unit model.

Departmental efficiency is a priority issue for hospital administration as third party payers maintain or reduce the level of reimbursement. This study validates the PHASU (PHArmacy Service Unit) model, which predicts the workload and productivity of a unit dose pharmacy. A PHASU equivalency system enabled the authors to develop a comparative standard for all pharmacy procedures. The procedure most reflective of workload is unit dose orders. Predicted productivity and staff requirements compare favorably to management engineering determinations. The PHASU model represents a reliable workload forecasting instrument that pharmacy managers can prospectively incorporate in the support of current and future pharmacy services.

Drug interaction micromputer software evaluation: RxTriage.

RxTriage was evaluated using general and specific criteria. The installation process, ease of learning and use, and technical support were rated excellent. The user documentation was good. The scope of coverage, frequency of updates and overall clinical performance were good. The quality of the clinical documentation, which included key drug interaction texts and primary references, was excellent. The primary advantages of the program are the quality of its data base and interaction information and the inclusion of decision support tables. The disadvantage is the relative high cost as compared to other available microcomputer programs.