In June 2007, FDA approved an Electronic Medication Management Assistant (EMMA) device and electronic medication administration record (eMAR) to help combat problems involving drug identification and dosing.

Approximately 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in US hospitals each year. These HAIs, which include pneumonia, bloodstream infections (BSIs), and urinary tract infections (UTIs), account for approximately 99,000 deaths and $5 billion in additional healthcare costs.

Bar coding drugs has been demonstrated to improve patient safety by reducing medication errors.

A summary of case management adherence guidelines and online-based case management systems.

A summary of several automated IV and syringe preparation systems and a discussion of the technology's impact on pharmacy efficiency.

One of the numerous factors shaping pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committees' operations and decisions is the push for electronic health information systems, including electronic prescribing (e-prescribing). E-prescribing is expected to help prescribers comply with plan formularies and formulary policies.

Due to pressure from regulators, the pharmaceutical industry is working to implement Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare facilities to help prevent medication errors. This technology is also being used in a variety of ways to help meet FDA drug pedigree requirements.

Researchers at the Infectious Disease Laboratory at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Laboratory Network have developed a new diagnostic tool called the "GreeneChip," a glass slide that can rapidly and accurately identify multiple pathogens from different biologic samples (eg, tissue, blood, urine).

Five of the nation's largest employers plan to offer employees access to their own portable electronically based medical records that they can use when they travel, see a new doctor, or change jobs to retain information about their healthcare, including medications.