An inside look at the UCLA P&T committee: how does it influence prescribing practices?

In the first of a series of exclusive P & T interviews in Hospital Formulary, Dr. Matthew Conolly describes the operation of the UCLA P & T Committee. He stresses that the role of their Committee is to educate the hospital staff--not to police prescribing habits. In maintaining the formulary, the Committee uses several effective methods of staff education regarding drug use and cost containment, including the formulary itself, other pharmacy service publications, lectures, noontime conferences, and grand rounds. The process by which P & T decisions become policy at the UCLA Medical Center is outlined. Areas of controversy and challenge in maintaining a formulary in this changing health care environment are highlighted.