Hospital pharmacies should adopt online ordering systems
Hospital pharmacy departments are not making the most of technology when it comes to managing medicines, according to Jeff Bulmer, director of AAH Hospital Service.
AAH Pharmaceuticals has more than 94 per cent of community pharmacies
ordering electronically but only 40 per cent of hospital pharmacies.
Mr Bulmer said that hospitals that switch to electronic ordering and
invoicing can potentially save millions of pounds. He added that, although
many hospitals use technology effectively, some hold back from introducing
it to all areas — including pharmacy for procurement, invoicing
and medicines management.
“Where ordering and invoicing are involved technology is a nettle
they are fearful to grasp. Unless you know accurately what drugs are
coming
into the hospital system and are able to keep track of them, how do you
know accurately what they are, where they are going and how they are
being used, and what the need might be to make repeat purchases,” he
asked. |
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