Regional hospital pharmacy information index

An index system was developed that provides participating hospitals with an up-to-date list of regionally available written materials used in hospital pharmacy practice. Eight acute-care hospitals agreed to participate in developing the index to avoid duplication of effort in producing original materials. A regional drug information center agreed to maintain the index and serve as the central repository for the materials. Newsletters and bulletins were given high priority for coverage by the system, followed by drug monographs and directed studies and residency projects. A three-year back-index period was set for most categories to ensure that the index was current. Only active entries were listed for investigational drug lists, i.v. drug administration monographs, and extemporaneously compounded drug products. Other categories were drug administration policies, unusual drug information requests, and patient-oriented drug information. The representatives provided the relevant materials from their institutions, and it was categorized and indexed. The index was entered on a word processor, which permits efficient updating. The index has been useful to the participating hospital pharmacy departments. As the system is tested through use, it will be evaluated formally and refined.