{
  "abstract": "Background and Importance Prescribing errors remain common in hospitals, often linked to limited drug knowledge and poor access to reliable information. Centres for Medicines Information (CMIs), often led by pharmacists, provide timely, evidence-based answers to pharmacotherapeutic questions, which healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive as supporting clinical decision and as having potential to improve patient outcomes. Efficient CMIs rely on expert input, structured documentation, and digital integration.Aim and Objectives This study evaluates the implementation of a streamlined CMI service at a tertiary care centre, aiming to improve efficiency, knowledge management, and accessibility through digital tools and standardised processes.Material and Methods A descriptive service evaluation was conducted over 8 months (October 2024–May 2025) in a tertiary care hospital, where the CMI is run by pharmacists. All pharmacotherapeutic inquiries from HCPs submitted to the CMI were included. Inquiries were received via telephone, email, or a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) consult feature and documented in a newly developed internal pharmacy database containing all inquiries and responses, with links to the patient’s EHR when relevant. The database tracks duplicate submissions and records pharmacist-led response validation and follow-up actions for frequently recurring or clinically severe inquiries. Data on inquiry characteristics, validation, duplicates, and follow-up actions were analysed descriptively.Results Over 8 months, the CMI handled 375 pharmacotherapeutic inquiries (47/month), mostly from physicians (43%) and nurses (36%), with 93% submitted by phone. Most responses were documented in the EHR (77%) and related to administration (34%), IV (in)compatibilities (22%), and dosage (13%). Validation was completed for 99% of inquiries, with 54% validated by any CMI pharmacist and the rest by specifically assigned teams or individuals based on expertise. Ninety-five percent of inquiries were approved, 4% not approved and 1% pending. A total of 38 parent issues were identified in the database, grouping 110 inquiries, and revealing 72 duplicate entries. Actions were taken for 62% of inquiries, primarily pharmacist guideline development (35%) and Frequently Asked Question page documents preparation (26%).Conclusion and Relevance The streamlined CMI service optimised inquiry handling and enhanced information management, thereby facilitating informed clinical decision-making. A future study should evaluate whether streamlined CMIs support safer and more effective pharmacotherapy and provide evidence of a return on investment.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospitals Leuven, Pharmacy Department, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "E Van Den Broucke"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospitals Leuven, Pharmacy Department, Leuven, Belgium",
        "Ku Leuven, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "B Deleenheer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospitals Leuven, Pharmacy Department, Leuven, Belgium",
        "Ku Leuven, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "T De Rijdt"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospitals Leuven, Chief Operational Officer, Leuven, Belgium",
        "Ku Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "F Weekers"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospitals Leuven, Pharmacy Department, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "C Quintens"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospitals Leuven, Pharmacy Department, Leuven, Belgium",
        "Ku Leuven, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "I Spriet"
    }
  ],
  "title": "4CPS-247 From a basic to a streamlined centre for medicines information service: introducing electronic health record-based inquiries and an internal pharmacy questioning database",
  "uid": "6b9fab4b-46e1-5e41-8732-218466024a1d"
}