Bylines

Knowledge in an Information Age

As the new editor-in-chief of The Consultant Pharmacist, I've been thinking about what is published in the journal, and what information we use in our daily practice. I've also thought about the information explosion we face, from the time we awaken in the morning until we read that last e-mail before going to bed.

What our journal must publish is the kind of-information that leads to knowledge, information translated in a way that it can (and will) be used every day to improve the lives of patients and residents. Knowledge is what the journal has been about since its genesis 12 years ago.

I want the journal to be the place where consultant pharmacists and others share all the new information we have today so that each of us gains knowledge. This acquired knowledge will make our practices more enjoyable, and more functional. It will also allow us to validate our practice and research experiences. What kinds of knowledge do consultant pharmacists-and thus the journal-need? Reviews of timely topics in geriatric pharmacotherapy, descriptions of innovative practice experiences, and reports of clinical research in geriatrics.

As ASCP Executive Director Tim Webster noted in the May Bylines, "It's time to get comfortable with the information explosion. Our patients are expecting it, and I know that we can not only meet their expectations, we can do even better." So what are we going to do in The Consultant Pharmacist to help you meet this challenge?

With access to electronic information systems like the Web becoming a reality of daily practice, we plan to review selected World Wide Web sites. All sites are not created equal, and these reviews will help you cut through the plethora of information found there and target the new information you need.

Another innovation in the works for next year will apply an evidence-based medicine approach to reviews of new scientific findings related to consultant pharmacy practice and senior care-integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available clinical evidence from systematic research. Why? Because a review that simply provides a "laundry list" of research findings is just information. You need knowledge that comes from experts who synthesize the most important research findings with their clinical expertise to describe the "best medicine," if you will.

You need to play your part in this knowledge-sharing as well. The editorial review board and I will be contacting many of you to learn about your practice, to get your advice, and to ask you to contribute to the content to the journal.

Is information power? No. As Ayn Rand wrote, "To achieve. . . you have to know what you're doing, and that's real power." Knowledge, then, is power. And that is what The Consultant Pharmacist is here for-to give consultant pharmacists the power to improve the lives of others.

To share your insights with the editor- in-chief, send an e-mail to edavidson@ascp.com or fax to 757-625-4538.

H. Edward Davidson
Editor-in-Chief