Pharmacy informatics: A call to action for educators, administrators, and residency directors

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Pharmacy Practice
• Information Technology Applications

Background:

• Pharmacy informatics integrates information technology to enhance medication-related processes.
• The expansion of technology and medication use in healthcare underscores its critical importance.
• Many pharmacists lack awareness of entry points into this specialized field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline accessible pathways for pharmacists and student pharmacists to enter and advance in pharmacy informatics.
• To emphasize the need for structured training and continuous professional development in health informatics.

Main Methods:

• The abstract suggests foundational informatics courses for student pharmacists.
• It highlights postgraduate year two (PGY2) residencies in informatics as an advanced training option.
• It recommends leveraging resources from national pharmacy organizations and local IT pharmacists for current practitioners.

Main Results:

• Early and structured education is proposed as ideal for student pharmacists.
• Continuous learning opportunities are identified for practicing pharmacists.
• These methods aim to equip pharmacists with the knowledge to engage in informatics projects.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacy informatics training should commence early in professional education.
• Accessible resources and advanced training are crucial for developing informatics expertise among pharmacists.
• These strategies foster a pipeline for pharmacists to become leaders in health information technology.