ABSTRACT
Job shadowing is an excellent way to learn more about the pharmacy profession. The shadowing individuals gain a greater sense of the role pharmacists play in the health care team and are exposed to the variety of roles that are filled by pharmacists. Job shadowing is also an important way for pharmacists to demonstrate the value of the profession and recruit talented individuals to their institution. However, there are several important considerations to ensure that the shadowing experience is beneficial for the individual, is a positive experience for the sponsor, and is compliant with the host institution's policies and procedures. The goal of this article is to prepare a potential host site for developing and maintaining a successful job shadow experience.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Lessons learned through the transition to computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) at four academic medical centers are reviewed. SUMMARY: CPOE is an important strategy in efforts to improve medication and patient safety and achieve compliance with federal health care information technology objectives. Pharmacy-led CPOE implementation teams at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Georgia Health Sciences Health System, UC Health University Hospital, and University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics were challenged to overcome different types of resource, staffing, and hardware-software constraints. Their collective experience points to a number of factors that are essential to successful CPOE implementation, including (1) involvement by all ancillary personnel in system planning, development, implementation, and refinement, (2) selection of CPOE equipment that offers a high level of interoperability with existing information systems and automated dispensing machines, (3) development of electronic order sets and clinical decision support (CDS) tools that are designed for ease of use and tailored to the hospital's clinical workflows, and (4) dedication of adequate resources and time for staff training, technical support, and system troubleshooting and maintenance. In particular, facilities transitioning to CPOE must secure initial and ongoing physician input and feedback to ensure patient safety and reduce CDS-related problems and other barriers to broad system acceptance. CONCLUSION: Before implementing CPOE, addressing institutional considerations pertaining to system selection, preimplementation preparation, staff training, necessary equipment, program rollout, and postimplementation maintenance can increase the likelihood of a smooth transition to CPOE and optimal system performance.
