PHARMACIST-MANAGED INTRAVENOUS TO ORAL STEP-DOWN PROGRAM

In an effort to provide cost-effective pharmaceutical care at a 650-be d community hospital, a pharmacist-managed intravenous to oral step-do wn program was developed and implemented. As part of this program, sat ellite pharmacists review daily the charts of patients receiving 1 or more of 10 targeted drugs given intravenously. Based on a predetermine d set of criteria and their clinical judgment, pharmacists recommend t hat physicians switch to the oral formulation of the targeted drugs if appropriate. This program has been in place for 7 months, during whic h time 223 recommendations were made. Of these recommendations, 190 we re accepted and implemented, resulting in a cost savings of $21,596.00 . When annualized, the expected savings is $37,000.00 or nearly the sa lary of one full-time pharmacist. This program has been well accepted by physicians and pharmacists. It appears to be having a positive impa ct on physician awareness of using oral medications when appropriate.