Laine GA, Galt MA, Langford JA
… +2 more, Prout DL, Puckett WH
Am J Hosp Pharm
· 1994 Dec · PMID 7879805
The development and composition of a hospitalwide medication policies and standards manual are described. Medication policies and procedures developed independently by individual hospital departments and services at a 78...The development and composition of a hospitalwide medication policies and standards manual are described. Medication policies and procedures developed independently by individual hospital departments and services at a 789-bed private teaching institution created problems related to consistency, the approval process, accreditation standards, and retrievability. Therefore, a joint nursing-pharmacy task force was formed to create a master document containing medication policies and standards for the entire institution. The manual also contains departmental medication-related procedures, the formulary of approved drugs, and key drug information. Its format allows for periodic updating and ease of use by nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals. It meets the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requirement of a collaborative framework to ensure optimal medication-use outcomes. All medication-related procedures in individual departments must comply with the new policies and standards. A hospitalwide medication policy manual, created through multidisciplinary collaboration, made the policies and procedures consistent and more accessible and met JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
New York State's prescription drug benefits program is described. The Empire Plan, a part of the New York State Health Insurance Program, includes a prescription drug benefits program. The prescription drug program began...New York State's prescription drug benefits program is described. The Empire Plan, a part of the New York State Health Insurance Program, includes a prescription drug benefits program. The prescription drug program began in 1986 and covers more than 700,000 people. In 1988 the state started a therapeutic drug-use-evaluation (DUE) program in correct with the supplier, Health Information Designs, a subsidiary of ValueRx Pharmacy Program. In 1991 the partnership with ValueRx was expanded to include patient profilling and physician education. In 1993 the state implemented a prior-authorization program for certain high-technology drugs, also administered by ValueRx. New York's public work force is heavily unionized, and the unions have been deeply involved in program design and vendor selection. Program participants have access to a large network of community pharmacies. The program also provides mail-order service. Quality is at the center of the state's and the unions' prescription drug program philosophy. Saving money is also a major objective; savings totaling $19.5 million were realized from 1988 through 1993 under the partnership between the state and ValueRx. The Empire Plan's prescription drug benefits program is building quality and saving money by integrating DUE, prior authorization, education, community pharmacy, and mail-order service.
The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adverse effects, indications for use, efficacy, dosage, and pattern of use of antipsychotics in adults older than 65 years are reviewed. Most available antipsychotic...The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adverse effects, indications for use, efficacy, dosage, and pattern of use of antipsychotics in adults older than 65 years are reviewed. Most available antipsychotic agents block dopamine type 2 postsynaptic receptors. Antipsychotics also bind to cholinergic, alpha-adrenergic, histamine type 1, and serotonin receptors. The affinities of a given agent for receptors determine its adverse effects and probably its efficacy. There are many obstacles to therapeutic drug monitoring. Many antipsychotics are metabolized into multiple active compounds. Drug clearance from brain tissue may be slower than from plasma. Therapeutic steady-state concentrations are difficult to define. Age-related physiological changes alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of antipsychotics, placing the elderly adult at heightened risk for adverse effects. Agents that may interact with the antipsychotics include carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, tricyclic antidepressants, and lithium. Adverse effects frequently observed in the elderly are orthostatic hypotension, anticholinergic effects, pseudoparkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal reaction. The antipsychotics carry approved labeling for use in treating psychotic disorders; many antipsychotics are approved for use in treating other conditions as well, such as behavioral problems. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 established dosage and documentation guidelines for antipsychotic drug use in residents of nursing homes. The guidelines specify that antipsychotics should not be used in this population if the only indication is a problem behavior like wandering. Although antipsychotics are often prescribed for behavioral control in older adults, most studies show only modest efficacy, while some show worsening of symptoms. As-needed orders for antipsychotics are controversial. Antipsychotics can relieve symptoms in the older adult, but lower dosages and more frequent assessments are necessary than for younger adults.