Expert systems. Assisting formulary decision making in the ambulatory setting

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Decision Support Systems
• Pharmaceutical Policy

Background:

• Formulary decision-making is a complex process involving multiple committees and considerations.
• Existing processes rely on manual evaluation of drug products for clinical and economic factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of computer-assisted decision support systems, specifically expert systems, in formulary decision-making.
• To introduce RXPERT, a prototype expert system designed for ambulatory formulary processes.

Main Methods:

• Description of expert systems as a category of computer-assisted decision support.
• Detailed explanation of the RXPERT prototype and its modeling of formulary decisions.
• Overview of the current multi-stage formulary decision process in Saskatchewan.

Main Results:

• Expert systems offer potential advantages for decision support in formulary management.
• RXPERT models the decision-making for an ambulatory formulary serving nearly 1 million residents.
• The current process involves the Drug Quality Assessment Committee (DQAC) and the Saskatchewan Formulary Committee (SFC).

Conclusions:

• Computer-assisted decision support systems, like expert systems, can aid in optimizing formulary decision-making.
• The RXPERT system provides a framework for evaluating drug products within a large-scale prescription benefit program.
• Understanding the interplay between clinical assessment, economic factors, and regulatory review is crucial for effective formulary management.