Revised December 20, 2005

Objective 5.1

75% of hospitals will use machine-readable coding to verify medications before dispensing.

Baseline: 2004: 9.2% (95% CI, 7.0–11.9%)   2005: 11.5% (95% CI, 9.2-14.4%)

Objective 5.2

75% of hospitals will use machine-readable coding to verify all medications before administration to a patient.

Baseline: 2004: 4.4% (95% CI, 2.9–6.5%)   2005: 9.4% (95% CI, 7.4-11.9%)

Objective 5.3

For routine medication prescribing for inpatients and clinic patients, 70% of hospitals will use computerized prescriber order entry systems that include clinical decision support.*

Baseline: 2004: Inpatient: 3.1% (95% CI, 1.9–5.1%)  Outpatient: 2.0% (95% CI, 1.1–3.9%) 2005: 8.9% (95% CI, 4.1-8.3%)

Objective 5.4

In 65% of health systems, pharmacists will use medication-relevant portions of patients' electronic medical records for managing patients' medication therapy.*

Baseline: 21% (95% CI, 17.5–25.1%)

*Managing medication therapy may include initiating, modifying, and monitoring a patient’s medication therapy; ordering and performing laboratory and related tests; assessing patient response to therapy; counseling and educating a patient about medications; and administering medications.

Objective 5.5

In 70% of health systems, pharmacists will be able to access pertinent patient information and communicate across settings of care* to ensure continuity of pharmaceutical care for patient with complex and high-risk medication regimens.

Baseline: 19% (95% CI, 14.1–25.2%)

(*For example, among hospitals, clinics, home care operations, and chronic care operations)