Cost of implementing and maintaining a hospital-pharmacy-based online literature search system

The costs of implementing and maintaining an online literature search system are described. The drug information service component of the department of pharmaceutical services pursued computerization to ensure the availability of timely and comprehensive drug information and to provide hands-on experience in computerized literature retrieval for its undergraduate and graduate students. Three major implementation costs were identified: the cost of purchasing the computer hardware, the expense of a training program for the online search program, and the ongoing user's fee for access to the databases. These implementation expenses were covered through nontraditional sources of funding, and no money was required from the hospital. The system received hospital-wide publicity through a number of prominent communication vehicles when it was implemented. In its first year, there were 448 requests requiring computer searches of a total 4150 requests for drug information. Of these 448, 255 originated from physicians, 138 from pharmacists, and 55 from nurses and drug manufacturers. Medline was the most frequently accessed database, accounting for 62.6% of the charges; Toxline accounted for 32.3% and miscellaneous files 5.1%. The average monthly charge (user's fee) was +238, which was within the initial projection for the yearly expense. Because of the success of this program, the system's costs were added to the operating budget of the drug information service.