Achieving an effective committee through reorganization: the Ohio State University Hospital's experience

The P & T Committee at Ohio State University (OSU) Hospitals, Columbus, is unique in that it accomplishes the bulk of its tasks through subcommittees. Four subcommittees are currently in place: a formulary subcommittee, a policy and surveillance subcommittee, an antibiotic subcommittee, and a therapeutic drug monitoring subcommittee. An advantage to this method of organization is that it allows for much more medical staff involvement in P & T Committee activities. Other unique aspects of this P & T Committee are that it is responsible for maintaining both an inpatient and outpatient formulary, and it provides decision-making services for a specialty cancer hospital. Expansion of their drug usage evaluation program, further development of their therapeutic monitoring program, and improved communication with the medical staff are future goals of this P & T Committee.