title: The effect of quality assurance review on implementation of an automatic stop-order policy.
abstract: Because of problems associated with overutilization of antimicrobial drugs, particularly antibiotics, Long Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center, New York, conducted a hospitalwide study to ensure that physicians' orders for antimicrobial drugs complied with an automatic stop-order policy. The original study, conducted in 1980, revealed a compliance rate of only 18.5% for antibiotics. However, after implementation of an extensive educational program for physicians and nurses, a restudy, conducted one year later, showed that compliance with the automatic stop-order policy increased to 54%--a 300% improvement over the first study. In addition, the follow-up study also revealed a 6% decrease in the percentage of patients who received antibiotics.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003625:Data Collection; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009519:New York City; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014600:Utilization Review
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents