The system uses symbols of the sunrise, full sun, sunset, and night to represent times, as well as plate and utensil symbols to show whether a patient should take the medication before or after meals. Computerized Pharmacies Computers are helping pharmacists personalize their patient services. According to the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report Healthy People 2000, an estimated 85 percent of all pharmacies in the United States now use computers. At the most basic level, pharmacists can use the computer to screen for missing or improper dosage information. Or, they can call up information about a drug's side effects.
Pharmacists also can use computers to keep track of patients' refill schedules.
Another idea FDA is exploring with pharmacy groups is the use of centralized data bases that will contain patients' drug and medical histories and allow authorized users, such as pharmacies, to share records. For now, though, patients should let their pharmacists know if they get a new medication at another pharmacy, or if their medical conditions change, so the pharmacist can record the new information in the patient profile. Pharmacists can provide other services to their patients with the use of computers. Many pharmacists now can enter insurance claims in the computer and send them directly to claims processors for reimbursement. Since Sept. 1, pharmacists have been required to complete claim forms for Medicare-eligible patients.