Knowledge, skills, and resources for pharmacy informatics education

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Pharmacy Education
• Medication Management

Background:

• Pharmacy has a long history of technology integration for business operations.
• Pharmacy informatics education in Doctor of Pharmacy programs is inconsistent.
• Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Standards mandate informatics but implementation varies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define essential pharmacy informatics knowledge and skills for graduating students.
• To conceptualize these competencies within the medication use process framework.
• To propose resources and learning activities for effective informatics education.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and expert consensus on core informatics competencies.
• Framework development based on the medication use process.
• Identification of relevant educational materials and activities.

Main Results:

• A defined set of pharmacy informatics knowledge and skills for all graduates.
• Suggested core source materials and specific learning activities.
• An understanding of how informatics facilitates evolving pharmacy practice models.

Conclusions:

• Standardized pharmacy informatics education is crucial for future practice.
• Informatics competencies should be integrated throughout the curriculum.
• Graduates will enter a practice environment increasingly shaped by informatics.