A statewide decentralized public drug information system

A statewide drug information system designed to assist consumers and health professionals is described, with emphasis on the training of pharmacists in the system's satellites. The development of the system was initially funded by a 10-month, $12,500 grant from the Chemical Dependency Division of the State of Minnesota Department of Public Welfare. Twenty-one satellite drug information centers in community or hospital pharmacies are linked by a WATS telephone line to the library of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. Consumers' questions are handled through the satellites with the pharmacists there referring to the central information source as needed. All the pharmacists in the system are trained in a one and one-half day program that covers (1) consultation skills, (2) communication skills, (3) drug information retrieval and distribution, (4) practical applications, (5) promotion, and (6) resources and referrals. The average amount of time devoted to the service for all pharmacy sites is 15-20 minutes per day. Percentage of time that specific resources are used include one's own knowledge and experience, 64.8%; a fellow pharmacist, 5.7%; another resource individual, 5.1%; a standard pharmacy reference book, 13.4%; the central clearinghouse at the college, 6.2%; and another resource facility, 4.8%. The authors believe that their system can be easily adapted to other areas.