Developing a pharmaceutical purchasing strategy.

The process commonly used by group purchasing organizations to contract for multisource pharmaceuticals and a strategic approach for the director of pharmacy in working with the purchasing group and the P & T Committee is described. The pharmacist should be knowledgeable concerning the group's contract commitment requirements, product specifications, terms and conditions and procedures for vendor selection, product award, contract implementation, and performance monitoring. To ensure results that meet the needs of the medical staff, it is important that the P & T Committee actively participate. The P & T Committee should understand the reasons for selecting a particular purchasing group, understand the necessary steps in obtaining the most favorable economic advantage, review products with potential brand interchange concerns, recommend product specifications, and reaffirm formulary procedures regarding the principle of current consent.

Drug product distribution systems and departmental operations.

Technologies affecting institutional pharmacy practice and the operation of pharmacy departments are reviewed, future developments are outlined, and implications of these developments for pharmacy education are proposed. Computer technology, especially as applied to areas such as artificial intelligence, online information databases, electronic bulletin boards, hospital information systems, and point-of-care systems, will have a strong impact on pharmacy practice and management in the 1990s. Other areas in which growth is likely to be active include bar-code technology, robotics, and automated drug dispensing. The applications of these technologies are described, with particular attention placed on the effects of increased automation on the drug-dispensing function. Technological advances may effect marked reductions in dispensing and medication errors; questions concerning the cost-effectiveness of these new systems remain to be answered. These advances also create new opportunities for clinical involvement by pharmacists; however, a fundamental understanding of computer systems is essential. Current practitioners can benefit from attending seminars, participating in users' groups, and keeping current with the computer literature. Many students now acquire the needed skills in computer laboratories and in the classroom. Technological advances will offer the opportunity for pharmacists to expand their clinical role.