I chose to do a rotation in pharmacy informatics because I have always been interested in technology. A rotation in pharmacy informatics seemed like a natural choice, as it would combine two interests that I have.
To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect before the rotation began. My rotation was at a large institution, and I knew it would be different from my other rotations. I’m used to doing clinical activities on a day-to-day basis, but I found that I had to participate in a lot of administrative-like duties during my rotation. My preceptor had great leadership skills, and he taught me a lot about how to manage a group of people.
A few things about pharmacy informatics really surprised me. I expected to spend more time with the people who actually developed the software systems. The role of the informatics pharmacist was more focused on the impact that the technology had on the clinicians using it. Ultimately, that all boils down to the kind of care the patient receives. I was able to be a part of solving some major issues within the informatics system, which makes a real difference in the end!
A very important characteristic about the staff that I worked with was their ability to work as a team. Everyone from the senior staff to the new employees had some type of involvement with the technology in this large institution. I came to admire my preceptor’s ability to problem-solve. There always seemed to little problems arising throughout the day (and night!), and he always was able to see the big picture and direct his staff toward the proper way to find a solution.
This experience definitely impacted my future career as a pharmacist, even if I don’t choose to specifically become an informatics pharmacist. The area of pharmacy informatics is expanding so quickly; there are so many opportunities to make a significant change within the profession. As technology increases in complexity, the need for specialists in this area will increase dramatically. With the development of the electronic health record and automated dispensing systems, technology is already a huge part of our healthcare system. Informatics pharmacists will continue to be an extremely valuable resource in the years to come.
If any other students are interested in pharmacy informatics, I would highly recommend a rotation in this area. You gain so much practical knowledge from these experiences that you may never get from any other rotation. Going into this rotation, I wasn’t quite sure what an informatics pharmacist does on a daily basis, but I definitely have more of an appreciation for the importance of this specialty now.
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