Abstract
University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) member-based drug information centers (DICs) were surveyed to obtain current information on the availability and scope of services provided. Surveys were mailed in early August 1996 to 70 UHC members believed to have formal drug information centers. The survey consisted of questions related to size, workload, administration, operations, services, and education features. The results were collected and compared among responding UHC members.
Through September 1996, 33 responses were received. Of those responding, 23 indicated having formal DICs. The volume of drug-information related phone calls steadily increased until 1994, whereby they plateaued and then decreased in 1995. UHC member DICs provide many services including the writing of drug monographs and newsletters, drug use evaluations (DUE), adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, pharmacoeconomics, education, and the traditional service of providing answers to drug-information requests.
The information obtained from the survey demonstrates that DIC services are moving toward drug policy development, health economics, and information system use. Areas for future research on DIC activities might include looking at the sources of drug information requests, whether hospitals are contracting out for drug-information, and the actual time allocated to DIC services.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.