Computerized monitoring protocols as a pharmaceutical care practice enhancement: a conceptual illustration using diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate how a computer system used in an ambulatory care pharmacy setting might enhance care of patients with diabetes by prospectively monitoring and prompting them to seek routine medical care. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search to identify existing works on informatics was conducted. An epidemiology and general medical literature review of diabetes mellitus was also performed via MEDLINE. Additionally, known textbooks on the disease were consulted. CONCLUSIONS: Programming a computer system to prompt pharmacists to remind their patients of necessary medical interventions could save medical resources by warning chronically ill patients not to ignore routine medical care. Also, this would allow the pharmacist to prospectively monitor patient outcomes. By knowing when medical interventions are due and obtaining feedback from patients on the results of the medical contact, pharmacists increase their knowledge about patient outcomes and the rationale behind changes in pharmacotherapy. It is expected that such a system would prevent the inconspicuous development of chronic complications.