This paper describes a mail survey of the current status of the hospital formulary system. Data obtained from 94 hospitals with a capacity of 100 beds or more are tabulated and discussed. There was no statistically significant difference between the types of hospitals participating in the survey and in the national distribution of hospitals. Survey results are presented as they pertain to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, consent to dispense a brand other than that prescribed, formularies or drug lists, and rules and regulations governing use of drugs. Over 90 percent of the reporting hospitals had a P&T Committee which was active to some degree. Most participating hospitals' statements describing the activities, philosophy and purpose of the P&T Committee could be traced to the AHA-ASHP Statement on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Nineteen percent of the hospitals still utilize blanket prior consent in dispensing under the formulary system. Sixty-three percent of the hospitals did not report availability of a formulary or drug list: Of those which reported formularies, 48 percent used the American Hospital Formulary Service, half of these in conjunction with a separate, printed drag list. Only 31 percent of the formularies or drag lists included information on the function and composition - of the P&T Committee. The authors recommend cooperative projects aimed at development of joint hospital formularies and they indicate need for the Formulary Service to be made available as a deck of data processing cards to allow printing of basic drag lists by hospitals. The need for comprehensiveness and annual revision of hospital formularies, and for expanding the scope and activities of the P&T Committee, is emphasized.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Lamy et al. (1966) studied this question.