Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Guidelines

The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee is a committee of the Medical Staff. The Committee is comprised of at least five members including three members of the Medical Staff, one of whom serves as chairperson; The Director of Pharmacy Services, who serves as secretary; and the Director of Nursing or designee. The Committee is advisory to the medical staff and pharmacists in the evaluation, selection, distribution and administration of drugs and supplies issued by the Pharmacy. The Committee recommends policies which provide for the safe, effective use and monitoring of drugs in the hospital, including investigational and hazardous drugs. The Committee is also responsible for the preparation and revision of the hospital's Formulary. The Formulary provides a list of those drugs which, according to the current judgement of the Committee and the Medical Staff, meet the highest quality standards for treatment of the usual clinical problems without duplication of therapeutic effect.

Addition of Drugs to Formulary

A request to have a drug included in the Formulary may be made by an Attending Physician who submits a completed Formulary Addition Request Form to the Secretary of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. The Drug Information Center will prepare a monograph on the drug, which will be distributed to all members of the Committee and the requesting physician prior to the next meeting. The requesting physician may be asked to attend the Committee meeting or meet with a Committee representative to discuss his request. If the majority of the Committee members present at the meeting approve the request, the drug will be listed in the Formulary and the Medical Board will be notified. Drugs are added to the Formulary under generic name. The Department of Pharmacy Services will determine which proprietary brands will be stocked based on product evaluation.

Links to P&T Meeting Minutes