Formulary issues at a pediatric hospital: experience at Children's National Medical Center

At Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, patients treated range from premature babies to 21-year-olds. Therefore, a broad base of drug therapy is practiced. University affiliated, the facility serves as the pediatric department for George Washington University School of Medicine. This hospital is seen as an innovator in specialized areas, such as neonatology, pediatric trauma, oncology, and organ and bone marrow transplantation. P & T Committee participation and communication are excellent, allowing members to focus sharply on therapeutic issues. One of their successful strategies has been the institution of a rather extensive subcommittee structure, which has facilitated intense but timely formulary review and strengthened drug policy. In this exclusive Hospital Formulary interview, Dr. George Cohen and Mr. Stephen Allen, Chairman and Secretary of the P & T Committee, respectively, share their experiences, providing insight for other P & T Committee members in hospitals serving both children and adults nationwide.