Economic impact of converting from 10-mL insulin vials to 3-mL vials and pens in a hospital setting

The economic impact associated with the conversion from 10-mL vials of insulin to 3-mL vials and pens at a community hospital was assessed.

Pharmacy purchasing and administrative data from Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon, were used in this analysis. The hospital converted floor-stock 10-mL vials of insulin in October 2010 to individual patient supply (IPS) 3-mL vials and pens. Insulin acquisition costs from the nine-month preconversion period were compared with those during the nine-month postconversion period.

Before the conversion, total acquisition costs were $168,783 for 5,086,500 units of insulin. After the conversion, total acquisition costs were reduced by 8.6% (to $154,303) and units purchased were reduced by 33.1% (to 3,404,900 units of insulin). The analyses also examined the results of converting to 3-mL vials of rapid-, short-, or intermediate-acting insulin to 3-mL pens of long-acting insulin analog. Conversion from 10- to 3-mL vials was associated with a 37.6% reduction in units of insulin and a 23.5% reduction in acquisition costs. In contrast, switching from 10-mL vials to 3-mL pens was associated with a 10.1% increase in costs, despite the fact that there was a 11.5% reduction in units purchased.

Conversion from floor-stock 10-mL insulin vials to IPS 3-mL insulin vials or pens reduced the number of units of insulin purchased and expenditures for insulin. The overall cost savings was driven by the conversion from 10- to 3-mL vials, whereas cost increased for the conversion of 10-mL vials to 3-mL pens for long-acting insulin analogs.