Applications of Computers in Pharmacy Computers are now used in the pharmaceutical field in industries, hospitals and various departments for drug information, training, evaluation, analysis, drug history and for maintaining financial records. They have become indispensable in the development of clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and pharmaceutical research. Computers are also useful for monitoring patient profile, medications, database management and materials management. It is useful for providing information on drug interactions, drug information services and patient counseling. COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN HOSPITAL PHARMACY: • As more hospital pharmacies move in the direction of computer access, the profession must identify more clinical applications for computer programming. The use of computers has demonstrated the potential to decrease adverse events, preserve financial and medical resources, and improve patient management. United States with at least 100 beds. Pharmacy managers were asked to indicate for which of 17 tasks in the pharmacy department a computer or typewriter with memory was used. The timing of first computer adoption in the department was compared to the predicted S-adoption curve; adoption time was also related to characteristics of the hospital, pharmacy, and pharmacy director. Of the 417 respondents, 308 reported using a typewriter with memory or a computer in the pharmacy[pic]• The computer is becoming the key factor in hospital pharmacy practice. Improved information technology is essential to assist the hospital pharmacist in maintaining all relevant data in order to provide optimal supervision of drug therapy. As more drug data becomes available, the factor that puts the patient at risk of developing drug reactions, the pharmacist must rely less on storing all the facts in memory and recognize that the computer is a necessary solution to optimize patient care.• Interpretation of handwriting. It is estimated that errors cause 9% of all medication errors. Although electronic prescribing (e-Rx) is finally well underway in the United States, it has been the norm in many European countries for several years now. As recommended by the federal government and other national health care improvement organizations, the use of electronic prescribing applications in pediatric practice should be encouraged. The Institute of Medicine has recommended that all prescriptions be written electronically by 2010. An estimated 20 percent of U.