Effective decision-making in a changing healthcare environment: a P & T Committee interview

Abstract

In this exclusive Hospital Formulary interview, members of the Virginia Mason Medical Center discuss the challenges of a P & T Committee operating in a private, not-for-profit hospital. In order to accommodate the increasing volume of therapeutic issues, the Committee has successfully structured six subcommittees. Establishing a flexible and dynamic formulary has been critical, since drug therapy settings include hospitalized, ambulatory, and HMO patients. In addition to developing effective therapeutic interchange and drug usage guideline policies, the P & T Committee has been instrumental in organizing a successful home healthcare program. They outline their priorities for further strengthening their formulary system in an everchanging healthcare environment.