Therapeutic use of albumin: 2.
It has previously been shown that albumin costs in a Veterans Administration Hospital constituted a large portion of the pharmacy drug budget and that much albumin was prescribed inappropriately. Therefore, a program of education and use monitoring was instituted to improve understanding and prescribing of this product. Inappropriate use declined from 41% to 26% of total albumin units and, more dramatically, total cost of albumin used had decreased by 90% one year after this program was initiated. Projected yearly savings from decreased use was more than $85,000. These results demonstrate that such a program can promote more appropriate use of albumin and effect a cost savings for hospitals.
D000418:Albumins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
D000418:Albumins