In the modern data-driven healthcare landscape, the ability to analyze and report on information is a critical skill for pharmacists. Analytic and reporting systems transform raw data from EHRs and pharmacy systems into actionable insights that improve patient safety, operational efficiency, and population health. This quiz for PharmD students will test your knowledge of the principles, tools, and applications of using data to lead change and advance the practice of pharmacy.
1. The primary purpose of an analytic and reporting system in a pharmacy setting is to:
- Create complex spreadsheets that are difficult to understand.
- Turn raw data into actionable information to support decision-making.
- Replace the need for pharmacists to use their clinical judgment.
- Document a single patient counseling event.
Answer: Turn raw data into actionable information to support decision-making.
2. A hospital’s “antibiogram,” which summarizes local bacterial resistance patterns to guide empiric antibiotic therapy, is a classic example of a(n):
- Financial report.
- Clinical reporting system.
- Inventory management tool.
- Patient education leaflet.
Answer: Clinical reporting system.
3. In the informatics pyramid, “analytics” is the process that primarily helps to transform:
- Data into wisdom.
- Knowledge into data.
- Information into knowledge.
- Wisdom into information.
Answer: Information into knowledge.
4. A “dashboard” is a reporting tool that is most effective for:
- Writing a long, detailed narrative about a single event.
- Displaying key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics in a visual, easy-to-understand format.
- Storing a patient’s complete medical history.
- Sending a secure message to another provider.
Answer: Displaying key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics in a visual, easy-to-understand format.
5. A pharmacy manager uses a report to track the number of dispensing errors per month to monitor the impact of a new workflow. This is an application of analytics for:
- Marketing.
- Quality improvement.
- Billing.
- Clinical research.
Answer: Quality improvement.
6. For an analytic system to accurately identify all patients with “Type 2 Diabetes,” it must be able to query the EHR for what type of standardized data?
- An NDC code for metformin.
- A LOINC code for a blood glucose test.
- An ICD-10 code for Type 2 Diabetes.
- An RxNorm code for insulin.
Answer: An ICD-10 code for Type 2 Diabetes.
7. “Descriptive analytics” is the type of analysis that answers which question?
- “What happened?”
- “Why did it happen?”
- “What will happen next?”
- “What should we do about it?”
Answer: “What happened?”
8. A hospital uses a system to analyze patient data in real-time to predict which patients are at the highest risk for developing sepsis. This is an example of:
- Descriptive analytics.
- Diagnostic analytics.
- Predictive analytics.
- Prescriptive analytics.
Answer: Predictive analytics.
9. The use of structured, standardized data is critical for analytics and reporting because:
- It makes the data more difficult to analyze.
- It allows for accurate aggregation and querying of the data.
- It is not important; free-text notes are better for analysis.
- It ensures the data is always 100% complete.
Answer: It allows for accurate aggregation and querying of the data.
10. A report showing the pharmacy’s medication inventory turnover rate is an example of a(n):
- Clinical report.
- Safety report.
- Operational or business report.
- Research report.
Answer: Operational or business report.
11. A key role for a pharmacist informatics specialist is to:
- Ensure the data used for reports is accurate and the reports are clinically meaningful.
- Repair the pharmacy’s computers.
- Design the physical layout of the pharmacy.
- Manage the pharmacy’s marketing budget.
Answer: Ensure the data used for reports is accurate and the reports are clinically meaningful.
12. The data for a pharmacy analytic system typically comes from sources like:
- The pharmacy dispensing system.
- The Electronic Health Record (EHR).
- Wholesaler purchasing data.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
13. A significant barrier to effective analytics in healthcare is:
- The lack of any data being collected.
- The poor interoperability between different data systems.
- The simplicity of all healthcare data.
- The fact that all data is already perfectly structured.
Answer: The poor interoperability between different data systems.
14. A pharmacy leader uses a report on MTM outcomes to justify the service to a hospital administrator. This is an application of analytics for:
- Demonstrating value and supporting a business case.
- Basic dispensing.
- Patient counseling.
- Fulfilling a legal requirement only.
Answer: Demonstrating value and supporting a business case.
15. A report that allows a user to “drill down” from a high-level summary (e.g., total number of adverse events) to a detailed view (e.g., a list of the specific patients and drugs involved) is an example of a(n):
- Static report.
- Interactive report.
- Paper-based report.
- Inaccurate report.
Answer: Interactive report.
16. The “monitoring” stage of the medication use process is heavily supported by reporting systems that can:
- Track and alert clinicians to abnormal lab values for patients on high-risk drugs.
- Order a new prescription.
- Dispense a medication.
- Bill for a medication.
Answer: Track and alert clinicians to abnormal lab values for patients on high-risk drugs.
17. What is a key ethical consideration when using analytic and reporting systems?
- Ensuring that patient data is de-identified or properly secured to protect privacy.
- Making sure the reports are visually appealing.
- Using the data to create marketing lists.
- Selling the data to the highest bidder.
Answer: Ensuring that patient data is de-identified or properly secured to protect privacy.
18. A “data warehouse” is a system used to:
- Store a pharmacy’s physical inventory.
- Archive old paper records.
- Collect and store large amounts of data from different sources for the purpose of reporting and analysis.
- Run the pharmacy’s dispensing software.
Answer: Collect and store large amounts of data from different sources for the purpose of reporting and analysis.
19. How can analytic systems help to reduce health disparities?
- By allowing a health system to analyze data to identify, monitor, and address differences in care or outcomes among different patient populations.
- They cannot help reduce health disparities.
- By making care more expensive for everyone.
- By limiting access to data for certain groups.
Answer: By allowing a health system to analyze data to identify, monitor, and address differences in care or outcomes among different patient populations.
20. A report on the “override rates” for a specific clinical decision support alert is used to:
- Evaluate the effectiveness and clinical relevance of the alert.
- Punish the providers who override the alert.
- Determine the cost of the EHR system.
- Increase the number of alerts that fire.
Answer: Evaluate the effectiveness and clinical relevance of the alert.
21. A “key performance indicator” (KPI) is a:
- Detailed, multi-page report.
- A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.
- A list of all employees in a department.
- A patient’s complete medical history.
Answer: A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.
22. Which of the following is an example of a KPI for a community pharmacy’s immunization program?
- The total number of prescriptions dispensed.
- The number of influenza vaccines administered compared to a goal.
- The pharmacy’s daily profit margin.
- The number of technicians on staff.
Answer: The number of influenza vaccines administered compared to a goal.
23. The leadership skill of “change management” is important when introducing a new reporting system because:
- It may change staff workflows and requires training and buy-in.
- The new system will be immediately accepted by everyone.
- It is a purely technical process.
- The leader is the only one who will use the new system.
Answer: It may change staff workflows and requires training and buy-in.
24. The data from a state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) can be analyzed to:
- Identify trends and patterns in controlled substance prescribing at a population level.
- Determine the price of a specific opioid.
- Control the inventory of non-controlled drugs.
- Report a single dispensing error.
Answer: Identify trends and patterns in controlled substance prescribing at a population level.
25. A pharmacist using an analytic report to identify patients who are non-adherent to their statin medication is an example of:
- Proactive patient care and population health management.
- A violation of patient privacy.
- A basic dispensing function.
- An unnecessary use of technology.
Answer: Proactive patient care and population health management.
26. The quality of the output of any analytic system is dependent on the quality of the input data. This concept is often referred to as:
- “Ready, aim, fire.”
- “Garbage in, garbage out.”
- “Look before you leap.”
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
Answer: “Garbage in, garbage out.”
27. A report from an automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) would most likely be used to:
- Analyze usage patterns and identify potential drug diversion.
- Create a patient education leaflet.
- Order a new computer for the pharmacy.
- Document a patient counseling session.
Answer: Analyze usage patterns and identify potential drug diversion.
28. A key part of “forging ahead” in pharmacy is using analytics to:
- Maintain traditional practice models.
- Justify and demonstrate the value of new, advanced patient care services.
- Reduce all use of technology.
- Increase the number of medication errors.
Answer: Justify and demonstrate the value of new, advanced patient care services.
29. What is a primary limitation of using claims data (billing data) for clinical analysis?
- It is the most detailed and accurate source of clinical information.
- It lacks clinical detail, such as lab results or the specific reason a drug was prescribed.
- It is always available in real-time.
- It is free for anyone to access.
Answer: It lacks clinical detail, such as lab results or the specific reason a drug was prescribed.
30. The ultimate goal of using analytic and reporting systems in pharmacy is to:
- Create more reports.
- Make data-driven decisions to improve patient outcomes.
- Increase the amount of time spent on administrative tasks.
- Replace the need for skilled pharmacists.
Answer: Make data-driven decisions to improve patient outcomes.
31. A “data visualization” is the practice of:
- Writing a long narrative report.
- Presenting data in a graphical or pictorial format.
- Storing data in a spreadsheet.
- Deleting all old data.
Answer: Presenting data in a graphical or pictorial format.
32. The use of a “heat map” on a dashboard could be used to visually represent:
- The geographic distribution of patients with a certain disease.
- A list of all medications in the formulary.
- A single patient’s lab result.
- The pharmacy’s hours of operation.
Answer: The geographic distribution of patients with a certain disease.
33. The pharmacist’s knowledge of ________ is essential for correctly interpreting a report on medication use.
- Computer programming.
- Therapeutics and pharmacology.
- Marketing.
- Human resources.
Answer: Therapeutics and pharmacology.
34. An example of a “real-time” analytic system would be:
- A report that is generated once per month.
- An ICU dashboard that continuously monitors and displays patient vital signs and alerts for signs of sepsis.
- An annual report on pharmacy finances.
- A research paper published in a journal.
Answer: An ICU dashboard that continuously monitors and displays patient vital signs and alerts for signs of sepsis.
35. A “data governance” policy is important for analytic systems because it:
- Defines the rules, ownership, and quality standards for an organization’s data.
- Ensures that data is managed in a chaotic and inconsistent way.
- Is not relevant to data analytics.
- Allows any employee to change or delete any data.
Answer: Defines the rules, ownership, and quality standards for an organization’s data.
36. A pharmacist informatics specialist might use which tool to extract and analyze data from a database?
- A word processor.
- A structured query language (SQL).
- A PDF reader.
- A web browser.
Answer: A structured query language (SQL).
37. How does a reporting system support the work of a P&T committee?
- By providing data on medication utilization, costs, and safety to inform formulary decisions.
- By taking minutes during the committee meeting.
- By ordering lunch for the committee members.
- It does not support the work of a P&T committee.
Answer: By providing data on medication utilization, costs, and safety to inform formulary decisions.
38. The use of analytics to support pharmacogenomics could involve:
- A report identifying all patients in a health system with a specific genotype who are taking a contraindicated drug.
- A system that prints the results of a genetic test.
- A tool for ordering a genetic test.
- An alert that fires for every patient regardless of their genetics.
Answer: A report identifying all patients in a health system with a specific genotype who are taking a contraindicated drug.
39. A leader using an analytic report to manage their team would focus on:
- Using the data to punish underperforming employees.
- Using the data to identify opportunities for process improvement and to provide constructive feedback.
- Ignoring the data and managing based on intuition alone.
- Sharing the data only with senior management.
Answer: Using the data to identify opportunities for process improvement and to provide constructive feedback.
40. A key skill for a pharmacist in our data-rich world is “information mastery,” which includes the ability to:
- Find, evaluate, and apply data to answer clinical questions.
- Memorize all the data in the EHR.
- Ignore all new information.
- Rely only on what was learned in pharmacy school.
Answer: Find, evaluate, and apply data to answer clinical questions.
41. The HITECH Act spurred the adoption of EHRs, which in turn greatly increased the amount of ________ available for analysis.
- Paper-based data.
- Clinical data in a digital format.
- Financial data from banks.
- Social media data.
Answer: Clinical data in a digital format.
42. A report showing a sudden spike in the dispensing of a specific antibiotic could alert a public health pharmacist to:
- A potential infectious disease outbreak.
- A change in the price of the drug.
- A new generic version becoming available.
- A stock market crash.
Answer: A potential infectious disease outbreak.
43. The “user interface” of a reporting system is critical because:
- If it is poorly designed, users will not be able to find or understand the information.
- It determines the accuracy of the underlying data.
- It is the most expensive part of the system.
- A good user interface can make up for inaccurate data.
Answer: If it is poorly designed, users will not be able to find or understand the information.
44. A major challenge of “big data” in healthcare is:
- The small volume of data available.
- The complexity of analyzing very large and diverse datasets to extract meaningful insights.
- The fact that all the data is perfectly clean and structured.
- The lack of any potential use for the data.
Answer: The complexity of analyzing very large and diverse datasets to extract meaningful insights.
45. A report on medication adherence rates for a health plan is a key metric used in which program?
- The DEA’s controlled substance monitoring.
- The CMS Medicare Star Ratings program.
- The FDA’s drug approval process.
- A hospital’s infection control program.
Answer: The CMS Medicare Star Ratings program.
46. “Prescriptive analytics” is the most advanced form of analytics and it answers the question:
- “What happened?”
- “Why did it happen?”
- “What will happen next?”
- “What is the best course of action?”
Answer: “What is the best course of action?”
47. A pharmacist’s understanding of __________ is essential for determining if a statistical trend in a report is clinically significant.
- Biostatistics
- Computer programming
- Marketing
- Human resources
Answer: Biostatistics
48. An automated report that is sent to a manager’s email every Monday morning is an example of a:
- Real-time dashboard.
- Scheduled or subscription report.
- Ad-hoc query.
- Manual report.
Answer: Scheduled or subscription report.
49. A key part of leading change with analytics is the ability to:
- Use data to tell a compelling story about the need for change.
- Withhold data from the team to avoid confusion.
- Manipulate data to support a personal opinion.
- Focus only on data that supports the status quo.
Answer: Use data to tell a compelling story about the need for change.
50. The future of pharmacy practice will increasingly rely on pharmacists who are skilled at:
- Using analytic and reporting systems to manage patient care and improve health outcomes.
- Performing manual, repetitive dispensing tasks.
- Avoiding the use of all technology.
- Working in isolation from other healthcare providers.
Answer: Using analytic and reporting systems to manage patient care and improve health outcomes.
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com