Technology and pharmacy: Theory, practice, and the future vision
Authors: Baines, D. and Babar, Z.U.D.
Pages: 211-219
ISBN: 9780128127360
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-128-12735-3.00057-1
Abstract:Technology is important to pharmacy practice. The performance of pharmacists working in all setting can be enhanced technologically. The profession needs robust models of pharmacy practice that fully represent technology and its wide ranging implications for professional activities. This chapter discusses the key concepts in technology and suggests ways in which existing pharmacy practice models can be enhanced. It also stresses the importance of understanding the institutions that govern the activities of pharmacists. The chapter completes the following tasks. First, it introduces the World Health Organization definition of health technology. Next, it explains how technology may be viewed as “performative” and introduces the concepts of “intrinsic” and “extrinsic” technologies. In third section, a brief history of the use of technology in pharmacy practice is provided. The fourth section introduces the concepts of General Purpose Technologies and Technology Enabled Pharmacy. Next, the chapter discusses the importance of taking an institutional perspective. The sixth section presents an action research model of the technological lifecycle. Finally, the chapter concludes that technology is, and will always be, a vital part of pharmacy practice and it is important that further research and development is performed on this topic.
Source: Scopus