Developing Drug Reports for the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Health Services Research
• Drug Formulary Management

Background:

• Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committees are crucial for drug formulary decisions.
• Drug information centers play a vital role in supporting P&T committee evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process by which drug information pharmacists assist P&T committees.
• To outline the evaluation criteria for new drug formulary additions.

Main Methods:

• Physicians submit a formulary addition request form detailing drug justification.
• Drug information pharmacists review requests, focusing on drug effectiveness for intended uses.
• Pharmacists conduct comparative studies of requested drugs against existing formulary agents.

Main Results:

• The request form standardizes information provided by physicians.
• Pharmacist evaluation focuses on clinical effectiveness and comparative data.
• This systematic approach aids the P&T committee in making informed formulary decisions.

Conclusions:

• Utilizing a standardized request form enhances the efficiency and focus of drug evaluations.
• Drug information pharmacists are essential in providing objective, evidence-based assessments for P&T committees.
• This process ensures formulary additions align with clinical needs and pharmacoeconomic considerations.