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OBSERVATIONS: Michael Cross Computer says yes—and no BMJ 2007; 334: 1350-1351 [Full text]

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Computer says yes? No!

John Wilson   (2 July 2007)

Computer says yes? No! 2 July 2007
John Wilson, locum pharmacist Nottinghamshire Send response to journal: Re: Computer says yes? No!	As one of those difficult-to-deal-with pharmacists, I have had some experience of what passes for an electronic prescription service whilst carrying out locum duties in a number of community pharmacies. Those which have the necessary software require me to insert my smart-card, which then allows me to work with the electronic system. So far, the system involves scanning in the bar-code on those prescriptions which have one (not that many). The computer then thinks for a while (the current record is eleven seconds) then allows me to dispense the items. However, the bar-code seems only to carry the drug names and not the directions, so these still have to be entered by hand. It seems to me that the only advantage of this system so far is that it slows down the dispensing process - not funny in a very busy pharmacy. No wonder that pharmacists are proving difficult to deal with! Competing interests: Locum community pharmacist