From ordering your favorite takeout to tracking your steps, technology is woven into nearly every part of our daily lives. And when it comes to healthcare, the shift is just as transformative—especially in the world of pharmacy.
What Is Pharmacy Informatics, and Why Should You Care?
Imagine a pharmacy where errors due to bad handwriting are a thing of the past. Where medication is tracked from prescription to delivery. That’s the power of pharmacy informatics—an evolving field at the intersection of pharmacy, data, and technology.
From e-prescribing and clinical decision support systems to barcode medication administration, tech is helping pharmacists do their jobs more accurately and efficiently than ever before.
“We are inherently limited as humans, so these technologies are complementary to the expertise of pharmacists,” says Dr. Kevin Fuji, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Creighton University.
Why Informatics Matters in Your Pharmacy Career
Today’s pharmacists don’t just dispense medication—they work with sophisticated tech systems to deliver safer, faster, and more personalized care. That’s why pharmacy schools are updating their curricula to include health informatics—the study of how technology improves healthcare outcomes.
Whether you’re in retail, hospital, or clinical practice, you’re going to interact with health IT tools. So, having a baseline knowledge of informatics is becoming just as important as understanding drug interactions.
Real-World Learning: The Power of Internships
Not sure if pharmacy informatics is for you? Internships are a great way to find out.
Dr. Beth Breeden, Director of Graduate Studies in Pharmacy Informatics at Lipscomb University, shares that their program offers 8–10 week internships at a major academic medical center in Nashville. Students dive into hands-on projects, including:
- Clinical decision support
- Computerized provider order entry (CPOE)
- Barcode medication administration
- Data analytics
These experiences not only build practical skills but also open doors to higher-level roles and salaries.
The Growing Demand for Informatics Experts
Healthcare systems everywhere are investing in electronic health records (EHRs), often with government incentives. That’s fueling a sharp demand for pharmacists who understand the tech side of care delivery.
And it’s not just students. Practicing pharmacists are also returning to school or earning advanced certifications in pharmacy informatics to boost their career options.
“We want students to realize a rapid return on investment,” Dr. Breeden notes, “by securing high-value positions right out of school.”
Is Pharmacy Informatics Right for You?
If you’re passionate about pharmacy and excited by the possibilities of technology, this field could be your perfect fit. When researching pharmacy schools, look for programs that offer strong training in informatics—it could be your launchpad into the future of healthcare.
Also Read : Empowering Change: The Importance of Diversity and Representation in Pharmacy
