Integrating herbs and supplements in managed care: a pharmacy perspective
The Permanente Journal
|February 19, 2011
Summary
Managing herbal supplements presents challenges for healthcare organizations. Kaiser Permanente Northwest developed a systematic approach to provide safe, quality-controlled herbal products, improving patient care and convenience.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Herbal and dietary supplements are widely used by patients, but their management within conventional healthcare settings is challenging.
- Limited evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exists for many herbal supplements, raising concerns about efficacy and safety.
- Quality control is a significant issue in the supplement industry, impacting patient and clinician trust.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a systematic approach for managing and stocking herbal supplements within a managed care organization.
- To outline the development and function of a Natural Products Advisory Committee (NPAC) for evaluating herbal products.
- To highlight the potential benefits of offering quality-controlled herbal supplements in pharmacies.
Main Methods:
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW) established a Natural Products Advisory Committee (NPAC) to review herbal supplements.
- NPAC focuses its reviews on evidence from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews for single-ingredient supplements.
- A comprehensive and systematic approach was adopted for managing and stocking selected herbal supplements.
Main Results:
- KPNW's NPAC has made progress in developing a structured response to patient use of herbal supplements.
- The availability of quality-controlled herbal supplements at pharmacies can enhance clinical outcomes, patient convenience, and quality assurance.
- This systematic approach serves as a potential model for other managed care organizations.
Conclusions:
- A systematic, evidence-based approach to managing herbal supplements is feasible and beneficial for managed care organizations.
- Providing access to safe and effective, quality-controlled herbal supplements can improve patient care.
- Continued evaluation and adaptation are necessary as interest in herbal supplements grows.
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