Strategic planning for applied pharmacoeconomics programs.
Escalating costs are changing the infrastructure in which health care is provided. Managed care programs are financing an ever-increasing share; rationing has already become reality in at least one state; and the federal government is once again examining the concept of a national health care plan. The primary goal of each of these initiatives is to control cost: the increasing cost of providing drug therapy is a major target. Increasing demands for shrinking resources will demand demonstration of value for money spent. Pharmacoeconomics provides a mechanism to establish the value of drug therapy. Using the strategic planning process, the Division of Pharmacy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Department of Pharmacy Services at Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital and Clinics have developed pharmacoeconomics programs to provide the focus for ensuring that every dollar spent on drug therapy and pharmaceutical services buys the best outcomes. These two case studies illustrate the processes for developing an applied pharmacoeconomics program and the activities such a program should embrace.
Wanke
L A
LA
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Ryan
G M
GM
D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D004345:Drug Industry; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D018166:Health Care Reform; D009922:Oregon; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010934:Planning Techniques; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States