Description
Organization and Operation
While the composition and operation of the pharmacy and therapeutics
committee might vary from hospital to hospital, the following generally will apply:
1. The pharmacy and therapeutics committee should be composed of
at least three physicians, a pharmacist, a nurse, and an administrator. Committee members are appointed by a governing
unit or elected official of the organized medical staff.
2. A chairman from among the physician representatives should be appointed. A pharmacist usually is designated as secretary.
3. The committee should meet regularly, at least six times per year, and more often when necessary.
4. The committee should invite to its meetings persons within or outside the hospital who can contribute specialized or unique knowledge, skills, and judgments.
5. An agenda and supplementary materials (including minutes of the
previous meeting) should be prepared by the secretary and submitted to the committee member’s insufficient time before the meeting for them to properly review the material.
6. Minutes of the committee meetings should be prepared by the secretary and maintained in the permanent records of the hospital.
7. Recommendations of the committee shall be presented to the medical staff or its appropriate committee for adoption or recommendation.
8. Liaison with other hospital committees concerned with drug use
(e.g., infection control, medical audit) shall be maintained.
Functions and Scope
The basic organization of the hospital and medical staffs will determine the functions and scope of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee.
The following list of committee functions is offered as a guide:
1. To service in an advisory capacity to the medical staff and hospital
administration in all matters pertaining to the use of drugs (including investigational drugs).
2. To develop a formulary of drugs accepted for use in the hospital and provide for its constant revision. The selection of items to be included in the formulary will be based on objective evaluation of their relative therapeutic merits, safety, and cost. The committee
should minimize duplication of the same basic drug type drug entity, or drug product.
3. To establish programs and procedures that help ensure cost- effective drug therapy.
4. To establish or plan suitable educational, programs for the hospital’s professional staff on matters related to drug use.
5. To participate in quality-assurance activities related to the distribution, administration, and use of medications.
6. To review adverse drug reaction occurring the hospital.
7. To initiate (or both) drug-use review programs and studies and review the results of such activities.
8. To advise the pharmacy in the implementation of effective drug distribution and control procedures.
9. To make recommendations concerning drugs to be stocked in hospital patient-care areas.
Hospital and it’s organization
Definition, Classification of hospital- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary
hospitals, Classification based on clinical and non- clinical basis, Organization
Structure of a Hospital, and Medical staffs involved in the hospital and their
functions.