Editorial: How do you keep up with pharmacy information?
I don't know about you, but the amount of information and news that comes in daily is staggering. How are you supposed to prioritize it and respond to it? It seems that every year there is more and more demands upon our time and things we need to know in order to function efficiently in our jobs and with our families. How do you keep up with everything?
First, we have information coming through the radio (on the way to and from work), television (evening news), telephone (all day long), e-mail (all day long), faxes (during the day at the office), newsletters (like this one), newspapers, magazines, journals, announcements, seminars, courses, meetings, etc. Some of these sources require an immediate response and others can be put off until a more convenient time. Obviously, radio and television are those that one opts to pay attention to. The telephone can be answered or left alone (at home we generally do not answer the phone if it is someone we don't recognize). E-mail can be selective but I prefer it over the telephone as I can respond much more rapidly and at my convenience, rather than when the telephone rings. It is also nice when traveling to be able to keep up with things at the office on a Blackberry. One can also get their thoughts together in an e-mail more completely rather than an "on the spot" telephone conversation. Faxes can be read at leisure also and some are quite informative; if not, they go into the circular file. Newsletters are a great source of information as long as they don't repeat the same information that was received a couple of days ago from another newsletter. Magazines are generally a "quick read" in the evening; journals are a "slower read", generally in the evening or throughout the day if time permits. Attending seminars, courses and meetings (professional and scientific) consume a lot of time, especially when travel is involved.
How does one prioritize their information resources? Sometimes you don't get a chance to prioritize them. Telephones usually require an immediate response; radio and television can be scheduled at preset times; but most of the other communication methods can be prioritized. For example, e-mail, faxes, newsletters, newspapers, magazines, journals, announcements can be placed together and viewed all at once in the evening when time permits. I generally print out all electronic newsletters, etc. and take them home for reading in the evening (I realize that one of the reasons for electronic media is to save paper but it is more efficient to print them and read them later and then file them). Attendance at seminars, courses and meetings is generally planned in advance and can be very worthwhile.
After prioritization, then comes the question of what to save and what to discard? Generally, if it is something I know I need to review or save for a later time, it is saved. Otherwise, it is discarded (into the recycle bin). If it is saved, where do I put it? I have stacks and stacks and files and files of VERY IMPORTANT papers that I think I will need sometime. Sometimes I can even find the information when I need it later. Files are set up generally according to drug (generic) name and everything concerning that drug goes into that folder. Notebooks are set up for different articles according to subject matter. I have difficulty keeping track of what is in the seminar notebooks for accessing at a later time. Regulatory, legislative, standards and other information is similarly organized. The problem one faces is that of running out of room!
So, we have looked at information sources, prioritization, saving and filing and discarding. The question remains, "How do we keep up with everything"? Realistically, the answer is, "We can't". It is only going to get more complicated as time goes on and we must look at what our options are and start planning for the future.
To me, the ultimate answer is to have everything in my specific interest area of pharmacy instantly available in something like a "Google" search. If everything I read, hear, discuss, etc. can be "filed away" as a word or audio file that is searchable, it would not be necessary to continue stuffing file cabinets and notebooks with all the information that is being generated each day. When we need something, we should be able to access it either through our computer, PDA, Blackberry, SmartPhone, etc. Much of the technology is already available for retrieval, etc., but we need to be able to input all that we are exposed to every day. However, I am sure that it will soon be possible.
Meanwhile, we will keep putting as much information as possible into CT.com for immediate access and try to keep everyone updated on the latest events in compounding through this newsletter.
Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph
Editor-in-Chief |
