Question:
Discuss About The Examining Role New Technology In Pharmacy?
Alphapahrm is an Australian generic drug manufacturing company. It manufactures variety of generic drugs and exports to them to around 50 countries. The parent company is Mylan Pharmaceuticals. Alphapharm focuses on customer relationship and is customer oriented. It offers personal attention and privacy to customers. It has one of the largest groups of independent pharmacies in the country.
The report focuses on business process and strategic information system that can be employed in healthcare industry. Business process has inputs which are clearly defined and results in single output. Healthcare industry is process driven and customer oriented. Business requirements can be understood as critical activities of an organization which are necessary to perform to achieve objectives of the organization while remaining solution independent. In healthcare and pharmaceutical industry appropriate software and vendor are crucial. A reliable and valid software and vendor can assist in achieving organization goals. There are several ways in which a company can use utilize technology to improve business efficiency. Organizations in the healthcare can also employ technology to improve efficiency and productivity. Three techniques are discussed in the report. Use of technology in pharmaceuticals is referred to as pharmacy informatics. It involves development and use of information and communication technology (ICT) which can improve efficiency and productivity of business. When using technology there are certain security risks and threats as well as data breached. Safety and security of healthcare information has become a major concern of healthcare industry and the governments all over the world. There is a need for risk assessment to ensure integrity, confidentiality, availability and privacy of information
Business process can be understood as system of linked tasks which start with manufacture of product and ends in delivery of product. They are the group of activities that are performed to achieve goals of the organization. Business process has inputs which are clearly defined and results in single output. Input factors directly or indirectly contribute to input value of the product or service. Input factors can be classified as operational processes, management processes and business process (supporting tasks) (Bisk, 2017).
Business process management is scientific and systematic approach used by organizations to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and capabilities of adaptation of organization workflow. Earlier the use of Business Process Management system was restricted to a few domains. Over past few years, this system has increased its scope and is now being used by the healthcare industry. Business Process Management can assist healthcare organizations and companies to manage new needs and requirements in better way, improve quality of service provided to the patients and comply to rules and regulations of governing body.
Healthcare industry is process driven, therefore, it can take advantage of information and data, respond effectively to new developments in the industry, decrease errors and improve and provide better services to patients. BPM may also help organizations to comply with regulations of federal and state governments. BPM can assist to structure the flow of information, people’s interaction and system as a whole. Another benefit of using BPM in healthcare industry is meeting the deadlines and earning incentive payments.
Business requirements can be understood as critical activities of an organization which are necessary to perform to achieve objectives of the organization while remaining solution independent. Business requirement document consists of details of business solutions for a project which includes documentation of needs and expectations of customers. Developing business requirement document is important for gaining agreement with stakeholders of organization (Jeston and Nelis, 2014)
There are several ways in business processes can be used in healthcare industry. Business requirements of healthcare industry are discussed below. Business requirements of Alphapharm should focus on healthcare professionals, institution like hospitals clinics etc. and retailers. Basic business requirement includes documentation and licenses, branding and target market and software. all businesses require documents and license from government or government regulated body. This ensures that the company will follow guidelines laid down by the government. Documentation generally involves safety certificate issued by local governing body and certificate of registration. second business requirement is branding. Branding should focus on both brand positioning and brand awareness. Organization should clearly define their target market when planning and developing products. Third important requirement is appropriate technology and software. Appropriate technology and software help to increase productivity and business efficiency.
Business requirements are important for all organizations. Business requirements should be prepared in such a way that they help achieve organizational objectives. When determining the system requirements, several techniques can be used.
Interviewing important stakeholders of the organization can give an insight about how certain requirement can impact organization. These stakeholders can belong to any department. While interviewing stakeholders, there should be a well-developed format and agenda. Another way is conduct focus group interviews. This is an important method for determining business requirements. Brainstorming meetings and discuss are also important for business requirements (Jüttner, 2005).
Software and vendor selection is crucial for any organization. A reliable and valid software and vendor can assist in achieving organization goals. For an organization, it is important to understand the effects and the consequences of software or service on the products. Organizations should understand that vendor plays an important role. While selecting a vendor in pharmaceutical company, four main areas should be focused: compliance, product quality, continuity of supply and customer service. The process of identification and remediation of risks associated with compliance, product quality, continuity of supply and customer service through supplier management lifecycle is referred as supplier qualification. There is an assurance that the product supplied by the vendor will not have any deficiencies. It also ensures that there are healthy relationships between the organization and vendor. The product supplied by the will meet the minimum quality standards. Another benefit is that there will be an overall decrease in costs of goods (Stephen Goundrey-Smith, 2017)
There are strict guidelines for software and vendors. Vendor must strictly comply with the rules and regulations. Companies that build information and communication technology system for pharmaceutical company must be aware of the policies, rules and regulation laid down by the government. They are categorized as vendor’s responsibility.
Pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations screen vendors based on their past experience and knowledge in areas such as qualification, validation and data safety. These areas play an important role in vendor selection. One main expectation of pharmaceutical companies is that vendor should comply to policies and rules at lowest cost that is possible.
Validation is an important component for outsourcing services and software implementation. The system is required to meet certain specifications and intended use. Deviations can lead to impairment of safety and integrity of health, clinical and drug related information. This can result in poor decision making which can have negative impact on safety of consumer and patients. Pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations should collaborate with their vendors to achieve certain common goals.
There are several ways in which a company can use utilize technology to improve business efficiency. Organizations in the healthcare can also employ technology to improve efficiency and productivity. Investing on information technology can be beneficial for an organization. It can lead to greater system availability, better decision making, improved health outcomes and increased use by clinicians. As mentioned above, business requirements of Alphapharm focus on healthcare professionals, institution like hospitals clinics etc. and retailers. Technology can be used to achieve goals of the organization and hence improve efficiency and productivity.
Use of information technology in pharmaceutical industry is known as pharmacy informatics. This field focuses on biomedical data, information and knowledge. This system focuses on ideal use of information related to drugs for decision making and problem solving. This system is important because it prevents medication errors, promotes personalized care, contributes to overall health of the community, and connects healthcare professionals. In pharmaceutical industry, it improves workflow, decrease manual labor, increases time efficiency and reduces documentation and paperwork
One way of improving business efficiency by employing information technology is using a customer management industry. Healthcare industry is oriented towards people, that is, patients and healthcare professionals. Using a customer relationship management (CRM) system can help in improving efficiency. Customer relationship management system involves strategies, practices and technologies which can be used by organizations to analyses customer feedbacks and interactions. The customer interactions can be used to improve overall efficiency of the organization as well as improving customer relationship. Improved customer relationship can help in retention of customers. A CRM system uses different channels (website, live chat, telephone, direct mail, social media and marketing materials) to compile information on customers. By employing this system, Alphapharm can keep track of all the healthcare professionals and patients. This system records all the interaction organization has with the customers. It keeps a track of the products they have purchased, marketing material, feedback provided by customers etc. this system can help to improve customer service. This can also help in improving customer relation. Organization can develop specific products based on the needs, demands and feedbacks of the customers (Khodakarami, and Chan, 2014).
Another way in which information technology can be employed in this industry is by barcode medicine identification. Barcode medicine identification is used in collaboration with electronic prescribing system (system which automatically prescribes the supplies and administer usage of medicines in hospitals). This system can help in reducing medicine administration errors. Every medicine and other medical products manufactured by company have a unique identification number or a barcode. This system has also helped in dealing with counterfeiting. This can improve pharmacy workflow to great extent (Business insider, 2017).
Third way of employing information technology is by using Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) software. This Clinical Trial Management System gives an insight about the data which is important for detecting and identifying problems, progress and possibilities. This is customizable software. it stores and manages information related to clinical trials done by biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies. it maintains data from research proposal to report generation. A very basic CTMS system can be used for preparing budget, managing patients, generating reports etc. By customizing this system, it can be used for more specific tasks. A benefit of using this system is that it helps in reducing cost and time required to develop a drug (Lodha, 2016).
Companies in healthcare and pharmaceutical industry have started using information technology for improving their services and business. Some of the methods such as customer relationship management, barcode medicine identification and clinical trial management system are discussed above. Use of technology in pharmaceuticals is referred to as pharmacy informatics. It involves development and use of information and communication technology (ICT) which can improve efficiency and productivity of business.
There are several factors that are linked with successful and effective implementation of technology. First factor is technical. It involves system performance, usability, integration and interoperability, adaptability and flexibility, stability and reliability, accessibility and adaptability of hardware and cost effectiveness. Second factor is social. It involves resistance and workarounds, benefits/values and motivations, attitudes and concerns, expectations, engagement and user input in design, integration with existing work practices and training and support. Third factor is organizational. It involves planning, getting the organization ready for change, leadership and management, realistic expectations, teamwork and communication, user ownership and learning and evaluation. Fourth factor is socio-political. It includes policy, industry, professionals, other healthcare organizations, independent bodies, inter developments and wider economic environment. These factors collectively influence the use of information technology and level of effectiveness in the organizations.
Several steps can be followed to evaluate the level of effectiveness of technology. Clarifying what the problem for which technology is designed and used. In many situations, technology is used on the basis of assumed benefits. This can lead to difficulties in conceptualizing the short term of long term transformation required by the organization. Second, build a consensus. Before employing a technology or software for business advancement, the management and the administration should have a consensus with respect to strategic vision. They can choose between whether to focus on streamlining and narrowing certain processes in the beginning and then expanding functionality. After the need for technology and software is discussed and established, the organizations should do a thorough and in depth research on different systems and software. This process is crucial and should not be rushed. Organizations in the healthcare industry should choose system which can help to achieve goals. The system should be affordable and cost effective also. It should be applicable in both organizational and clinical settings. Another consideration is proper planning. While formulating certain strategies, flexibility is needed. There should be an open communication channel between organization and users. Another step is developing a proper infrastructure. Inappropriate infrastructure can lead to increase in possibilities that system is not being used in correct way. It can lead to compromise in benefits and increase the risks associated with the system. It can influence attitude of the users. Poor infrastructure can result in negative attitude towards software system. Another step is maintaining the system. Maintenance of software and technology systems is undervalued and usually neglected. The software must be updated periodically. The capabilities of the existing technology or software change over time and it may no longer help organization achieve its goals. In such cases, software system should be either updated or changed (Cresswell, Bates and Sheikh, 2013).
Use of technology and software in healthcare and pharmaceutical company has its own pros and cons. The benefits of using technology and software have already been discussed. When using technology there are certain security risks and threats as well as data breached. Safety and security of healthcare information has become a major concern of healthcare industry and the governments all over the world. With digitalization of data such as formulas of drugs raw material, patient’s records, etc. there is a threat of health information being stolen. Cyber security has become a priority for all healthcare organizations and companies. Some of the serious threats which are a result of use of technology are discussed below.
Today, a lot information related to health and wellness process and programs are available on mobile phones. Healthcare professionals and institutions must be aware of the threats, hacking of health data and security breaches. Another threat to healthcare industry due to technology is insider misuse. Insider’s misuse can be understood as situation wherein the employees or managers of the organization steal data or property and commit other crimes. Misuse of information is a common problem. Employees usually steal and sell information for money or to commit tax fraud. Sometimes unintentional actions can result in security risks and data breach. This can result from an underperforming security system or misplacement of data. This can also result when old software and systems are discarded without formatting or deleting data. Another threat is threat to supply chain. Every vendor or supplier has potential for data breach. Every transaction and interaction with vendor in supply chain must be carefully examined for security (Perakslis, 2014).
Some of the security risks of technology are discussed above. There is a need for risk assessment to ensure integrity, confidentiality, availability and privacy of information. Systematic assessment of risks and threats is important and should aim at protecting organization from security threats and data breach. These risks can be mitigated in several ways. They are discussed below.
First, network access control (NAC). NAC solutions are a great way of keeping health data as secure as possible. It identifies its users and devices. It has an ability to scan device for threats. This system is useful in situations where large numbers of devices are interconnected. Information security continuous monitoring is a process which supports a company’s risk management system. It gives an insight about threat and threat activities. It evaluates security impact of changes to the system, assesses all security control etc.
Another way to reduce risk is by auditing all the devices used by employees and staff members. This can reduce the risk and prevent malicious use of information by an insider. Healthcare organizations should be vigilant and careful in their efforts to regulate and monitor data. Audits are an effective way of monitoring who has accessed what kind of information. To deal with insider’s misuse, organizations should also have proper security and privacy policies to protect data. In situations where data is lost or there is a security breach due Quality control measures and protocols can ensure negative impact are low or negligible. When designing a system, privacy and security of data and information should be considered. There should be continuous monitoring and adherence or compliance with rules and regulation of governing body. This can avoid data breaches and therefore maintain information security (Thomson, 2013)
Conclusion
Business process can be understood as system of linked tasks which start with manufacture of product and ends in delivery of product. They are the group of activities that are performed to achieve goals of the organization. There are several ways in business processes can be used in healthcare industry. Business requirements of healthcare industry are discussed in the report. When determining business requirements, several techniques such as interviewing important stakeholders, brainstorming, focus group interviews etc. can be employed. Software and vendor selection is crucial for any organization. While selecting a vendor in pharmaceutical company, four main areas should be focused: compliance, product quality, continuity of supply and customer service. The process of identification and remediation of risks associated with compliance, product quality, continuity of supply and customer service through supplier management lifecycle is referred as supplier qualification.
There are several ways in which a company can use utilize technology to improve business efficiency. Use of information technology in pharmaceutical industry is known as pharmacy informatics. One way of improving business efficiency by employing information technology is using a customer management industry. Healthcare industry is oriented towards people, that is, patients and healthcare professionals. Using a customer relationship management (CRM) system can help in improving efficiency. Another way in which information technology can be employed in this industry is by barcode medicine identification. Third way of employing information technology is by using Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) software. this Clinical Trial Management System gives an insight about the data which is important for detecting and identifying problems, progress and possibilities. Use of technology and software in healthcare and pharmaceutical company has its own pros and cons.
References
Bisk (2017) 3 Big Ways BPM is Being Used in the Healthcare Industry. [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.villanovau.com/resources/bpm/bpm-use-healthcare/#.Wb3zBdHhXIV (Accessed: 16 September 2017).
Business insider (2017) 3 ways technology can improve your business. [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.in/3-ways-technology-can-improve-your-business/articleshow/49246960.cms (Accessed: 16 September 2017).
Cresswell, K.M., Bates, D.W. and Sheikh, A. (2013) Ten key considerations for the successful implementation and adoption of large-scale health information technology, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 20(e1), pp.e9-e13.
Jeston, J. and Nelis, J. (2014) Business process management. UK: Routledge.
Jüttner, U. (2005) Supply chain risk management: Understanding the business requirements from a practitioner perspective, The International Journal of Logistics Management, 16(1), pp.120-141.
Khodakarami, F. and Chan, Y.E. (2014) Exploring the role of customer relationship management (CRM) systems in customer knowledge creation, Information & Management, 51(1), pp.27-42.
Lodha, A. (2016) Clinical Analytics–Transforming Clinical Development through Big Data, Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 2(10).
Perakslis, E.D. (2014) Cybersecurity in health care, The New England journal of medicine, 371(5), p.395.
Stephen Goundrey-Smith (2017) Examining the role of new technology in pharmacy: now and in the future. [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/examining-the-role-of-new-technology-in-pharmacy-now-and-in-the-future/11134174.article (Accessed: 16 September 2017)
Thomson, L.L. (2013) Health Care Data Breaches and Information Security, In American Bar Association, pp. 253-267.
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