Information Technology Development Needs in Community Pharmacies: A Strategic Approach

摘要: In the context of health care, information technology (IT) has an important role in operational infrastructure, ranging from business management to patient care. An essential part system is medication inpatient and outpatient Community pharmacists‟ strategy been extend practice responsibilities beyond dispensing towards care services. Few studies have evaluated strategic development IT systems support this vision. The objectives study were 1) assess compare independent Finnish community pharmacy owners‟ staff priorities concerning content structure next generation systems, 2) explore international experts‟ visions views on needs relation services provided pharmacies, 3) identify innovations facilitating evaluate their implementation processes, 4) readiness adopt innovations. This triangulated qualitative quantitative data collected by a personal interview 14 experts related eight countries; national survey owners (mail survey, response rate 53%, n=308), representative sample pharmacists (online 22%, n=373). gave priority logistical functions but also those managers different importance features, reflecting professional duties pharmacy. indicates need for involving occupation groups planning new pharmacies. A majority shared vision adopting orientation; supported IT-based documentation, technological solutions, access information, data. Opportunities achieve included technology, skills, inter-professional collaboration. Threats associated with implementing high costs, attitudes, absence acceptable solutions. rare, which paradoxical because perception innovativeness was seen as being high. processes usually had not undergone systematic assessment research beforehand or evaluation after most often coordinated governments without subsequent commercialization. Specifically, developments lack research, organization, leadership user involvement process. Those responsible sector should create long-term strategies that are line service strategies. could provide guidance future projects ensure potential based sufficient understanding problems they intended solve, encourage strong so used, will be considered even if process led outside profession.