Drug information centers: future trends

The future of drug information centers (DICs) is discussed in light of current problems and future needs. DICs are not being used to their full potential in supplying drug information to health professionals, and the entire system appears to be inefficient. The efficiency of answering nonjudgmental questions in DICs is questionable, especially since community and hospital pharmacists could answer these questions using readily available references. There is no minimum standard of quality for DICs, and DICs do not use computer technology to its fullest extent. Many DICs have had funding problems. In spite of these problems, DICs will continue to perform useful functions, such as providing support for clinical pharmacy services, teaching undergraduate and graduate pharmacy students, and performing reviews for pharmacy and therapeutics committees. Quality assurance guidelines must be instituted for all DICs, as well as standards for facilities, resources, and personnel. The establishment of regional DICs, which are self-supported through fees charged to hospitals, pharmacies, health professionals, consumers, and corporate users, is a possible means of improving the efficiency and providing consistent quality in DICs. Since routine drug information will be readily available online to health practitioners, in the future DICs will provide primarily consultative drug information services.