A survey of selective administration procedures in formulary maintenance

The survey attempts to examine various Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P & T) Committees' activities for indications of a rational and objective approach to drugs and the hospital formulary. The objectives were: 1) to gain insight as to how drug products attain formulary listing by examining select P & T Committee's reasons for adding and deleting drugs; 2) to determine whether P & T Committees are attempting to follow generally accepted guidelines for the operation of the formulary system; and 3) to determine how the hospital pharmacist is responding to the rational and/or irrational drug selection by the P & T Committee. The results showed that the hospitals studied appeared to be acting in agreement with the guidelines presented. Definitive statements concerning the activities of the pharmacist and the rational approach of the P & T Committee to the hospital formulary could not be made. The author recommends that P & T Committees begin documenting the methods they utilize to promote and maintain the formulary system in hospitals. This information should be used as an educational tool by the P & T Committee.