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PRN drug utilization in Indiana long-term care facilities.
Hospital Pharmacy
|September 7, 1984
Summary
Long-term care facility patients are prescribed many PRN medications, but nearly half are unused. Reducing unused medications could significantly cut costs for facilities and payers.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Medication management in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is complex.
- The utilization patterns of PRN (as needed) medications in LTCFs require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prescribing and utilization of PRN medications in Indiana LTCFs.
- To identify potential cost savings through improved PRN medication management.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 307 patients across 20 LTCFs in Indiana.
- Analysis of PRN medication orders and actual consumption rates.
- Comparison of PRN medication use across different LTCF types (ICF, SNF) and patient payer types (Medicaid, private).
Main Results:
- Patients were prescribed an average of 4.9 PRN medications.
- Significant differences in PRN prescriptions were observed between LTCF types.
- Nearly half (48.8%) of PRN medication orders were never consumed, with utilization rates varying widely (2.5% to 36.4%).
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of PRN medications in LTCFs are not utilized.
- Potential for significant cost savings exists by returning unused PRN medications to the pharmacy.
- Optimizing PRN medication prescribing and management is crucial for cost-efficiency in LTCFs.
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