Inpatient formulary assessment and updates

Here’s what to expect

Most providers experience the following: They order a medication for a patient admitted only to receive a phone call from the nurse or pharmacist letting them know the pharmacy does not stock that medication.

To remedy this, Salem Health’s Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee will be assessing and updating the inpatient formulary.

While what is available to order should not change significantly, you may see some changes, including medication restrictions, stock and availability.

The goal of this formulary clean-up is to assess medications for their efficacy, safety and value and ensure that what is available to order in Epic is stocked (or appropriately noted when not regularly stocked).

Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) will work with stakeholders and subject matter experts to update the formulary. Here’s what you can expect:

• Increase in P&T-approved therapeutic interchanges*.

• *A therapeutic interchange is the practice of recommending a therapeutic equivalent medication in the place of the medication ordered.
  • Increase in alerts informing providers that a medication has been removed from formulary and offering alternatives when available.
  • Decrease in phone calls saying that pharmacy does not stock a medication and an alternative needs to be selected.

We know this is a significant change and you’ll have questions. P&T Chair Matt Egalka, MD, Neonatology Medical Director, and Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator Jade Bryant, PharmD, BCPS, plan to attend section meetings to review these changes and answer questions during the next few months.

More formulary information and changes can be found here (Salem Health intranet access required), including the formulary for therapeutic classes that have been reviewed and approved by P&T and a more detailed description of the formulary process.

Questions? Email Dr. Egalka or Jade Bryant.