We disclosed laboratory data on the prescription for outpatients from April 2011. In order to evaluate the usefulness of this approach, we regularly have meetings with pharmacists of plural outpatient pharmacies. We analyzed the data that was accumulated to investigate the usage of laboratory data and related medicines. As a result of the questionnaire to pharmacists of the outpatient pharmacy, more than Nineteen in twenty two pharmacists (19/22) checked prescriptions and patient instructions using the laboratory data. The high-frequency laboratory data printed on the prescriptions were Prothrombin Time - International Normalized Ratio (PT-INR) value, the serum creatinine value and the serum potassium value. When the pharmacists felt uncertain about usage related with laboratory data in prescriptions, they gave suggestions to the doctor. Approximately 40% of pharmacist's suggestions were accepted by the doctor. Printing of the laboratory data could become a helpful tool in cases of uncertainty. However, there were cases in which there were differences in recognition of the examinations results among pharmacists, especially in the outpatient pharmacy. Therefore, we need information sharing and reinforcement of cooperation with the outpatient pharmacy.
