Kevin C. Marvin, R.Ph., M.S.

Pharmacy Informatics Specialty

Healthcare is becoming increasingly dependent on automation and information system tools to support safe and cost effective care. Automation and information system tools are available to support all areas in the medication process. Opportunities for pharmacy informatics specialists exist in Pharmacy departments, Information Systems departments, vender organizations and consulting groups.

Most major healthcare information systems purchases are justified by savings in the medication process. In order to realize these savings, it is important to meld the information systems tools with the workflows involving Physicians, Pharmacists, Nurses and other healthcare providers. Informatics Pharmacists have the unique qualifications of understanding the complete medication process and the tools to integrate the process components.

The development, marketing, installation and operational support of these systems require individuals with the skills to apply the tools in a safe and efficient manner to new and modified clinical workflows. There are opportunities for both Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Pharmacy Informatics. Depending on the needs of the healthcare institution opportunities exist in specialty areas of Pharmacy Informatics, maintenance and enhancement of existing medication systems and higher level project and implementation management.

How They Got There

When he graduated from Pharmacy School Kevin had very little experience or training in informatics. In his first pharmacy job, he installed a new computer system in a retail pharmacy and developed an interest in computer systems. He went back to college and received a M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He concentrated on database systems and artificial intelligence and also worked as a graduate assistant in Pharmacy administration at the Pharmacy School. Since then he has worked 6 years for 3 healthcare systems vendors starting as a programmer/analyst and progressing into product management. He has also worked 15 years as an informatics pharmacist in three University teaching institutions in Madison, WI, Cincinnati, OH and Burlington, VT. These positions have varied from being the IS coordinator within the Pharmacy department to Assistant Director within Information Services. Kevin is currently self-employed as a project manager-consultant for the implementation of an integrated pharmacy system at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Other Professional Activities: Throughout his career Kevin focused on developing, enhancing and implementing tools to support safe and efficient patient care medication processes. This includes active participation in user groups and professional organizations through presentations and leadership roles. Kevin has also lectured as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Wisconsin and University of Cincinnati Pharmacy Schools. Kevin started one of the first elective courses in Pharmacy Informatics at the US at the University of Wisconsin in 1983. Kevin is a member of ASHP and Health Information Management Systems Society.

Advanced Training

Pharmacists involved in informatics in many cases get there by showing interest and receiving training on the job. All newly graduating pharmacists are introduced to informatics within their core curriculum and most have options for additional elective classes in informatics. There are opportunities to get additional education in ASHP accredited pharmacy informatics residency programs and degree programs in management information systems and computer science. The Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has an informatics certification program. Through this program an informatics professional can become a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS).

Advice

“As an Informatics specialist, recognize that you are responsible for the bridge between the information systems technical components and the clinical needs of patient care. This requires you to be an excellent communicator. You are a patient and medication process advocate to IS and a technology advocate in Pharmacy. You will be in a constant education role helping IS personnel understand the safety and operational workflow needs of patient care and at the same time helping pharmacy personnel understand how the information system tools can best support their needs.”