Multidisciplinary adverse drug reaction surveillance program

Initial experience with a multidisciplinary adverse drug reaction (ADR) surveillance program at a 350-bed community hospital center is described. The pharmacy and quality-review (QR) departments developed a program that was incrementally incorporated into the hospital's overall QR activity. After inservice training, nurses and QR personnel were asked to complete an "alert" card for every suspected ADR and send it to the pharmacy. In addition, medical records were reviewed retrospectively for disease classification codes related to drug toxicity and unspecified adverse effects. Laboratory and utilization-review personnel also conducted retrospective reviews. A pharmacist reviewed all ADR reports and categorized each according to the severity of the reaction and the probability that it was drug related. For each reaction classified as severe, the patient's chart underwent physician peer review for appropriateness of therapy, avoidability of the reaction, and adequate documentation; related patient-care issues were addressed by the medical staff as part of routine quality-review activities. When problems with prescribing were identified, the pharmacy and therapeutics committee intervened with the prescribers or recommended further medical staff review. Drugs repeatedly associated with ADRs became the focus of drug-use reviews. The number of ADR reports increased from 0 to 134 in the first 11 months of the program. A multidisciplinary approach to ADR reporting increased the number and quality of ADR reports.