Workflow-Based Integration Framework for Medication-Use Process

Abstract

The use of medications is ubiquitous in terms of location and time. Medication-use system includes the prescription entry sub-system in hospitals and clinics, prescription refill subsystems in pharmacies, and medication dispensing subsystems for medication users. Fortunately, many of the medication-use injuries are preventable. Integrating medication sub-systems and automating the medication process enhance the medication compliance and prevent the medication errors, caused by communication mistakes between care-takers and medical institutes. There are many attempts to integrate medication-use sub-systems to help the patient in hospital or outpatient settings to comply with medication directions. Many of them are designed and implemented with typical medication-use process and most of the systems are implemented as a tightly-coupled close system.