BACKGROUND Recent advances in laboratory information systems have largely been focused on automation. However, the phlebotomy services have not been completely automated. To address this issue, we introduced an automated reception and turnaround time (TAT) management system, for the first time in Korea, whereby the patient's information is transmitted directly to the actual phlebotomy site and ...

This chapter gives an educational overview of: * The need for a systematic evaluation of health information systems * How to plan and execute an evaluation study * How to select adequate quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods * How to judge the quality of an evaluation study * The idea of evidence-based health informatics.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently recommended new technologies for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The WHO recommendations include the development of a strategic plan for bringing the network up to grade; investment in supervision and quality control; and implementation of a system of laboratory environmental management. Without those measures having been taken, no new technology ...

Information needs that arise when clinicians use clinical information systems often go unresolved, forcing clinicians to defer decisions or make them with incomplete knowledge. My research characterizes these needs in order to build information systems that can help clinicians get timely answers to their questions. My colleagues and I have developed "Infobuttons", which are links between clinic...

As the clinical laboratory test menu has significantly expanded in volume and complexity, there is a rapidly growing need by clinicians for narrative interpretations of complex studies that resemble those provided in anatomic pathology and radiology. In this report, the impact of advice on laboratory test selection and interpretation is presented with regard to providing adequate quality of car...

This commentary seeks to define the areas of social pharmacy and clinical pharmacy to uncover what they have in common and what still sets them apart. Common threats and challenges of the two areas are reviewed in order to understand the forces in play. Forces that still keep clinical and social pharmacy apart are university structures, research traditions, and the management of pharmacy servic...

OBJECTIVE To investigate systematically participation in audit of NHS hospital pharmacists in the United Kingdom. DESIGN Questionnaire census survey. SETTING All NHS hospital pharmacies in the UK providing clinical pharmacy services. SUBJECTS 462 hospital pharmacies. MAIN MEASURES Extent and nature of participation in medical, clinical, and pharmacy audits according to hospital manageme...

For pharmacy students and others seeking postgraduate pharmacy residency training, March has become the most stressful month of the year. While 2011 brought the highest fill rate for residency positions since the ASHP Resident Matching Program was launched in 1979, the demand for postgraduate pharmacy training far exceeded the supply of residency training programs. With approximately 1250 postg...