[Drug costs in departments of internal medicine. An analysis of costs for patients and departments].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to compute the daily cost of drugs for patients admitted to internal medicine wards and to determine the impact of hospitalization on these costs. Secondly, the aim was to estimate the potential savings on ward drug expenses if the drug prescription was done in accordance with hospital recommendations.


METHODS
A total of 113 patients from two general internal medicine wards were included consecutively. Drug information was obtained from the case records and through post-discharge telephone interviews.


RESULTS
The patients' daily drug costs increased from admission to discharge by DKK 11.95 (95% CI: DKK 5.41-18.49), p = 0.0004. When prescriptions with explicitly determined end dates were excluded, no increment was observed. Post discharge interviews (n = 51) revealed that patients' daily drug costs were similar to the level at admission. The average ward drug expenses per admission were DKK 302.72 (95% CI: DKK 209.07-396.37). A total of 31% and 28% of the prescriptions could have been replaced by drugs in accordance with the hospital drug policy. The average potential amount which could be saved by using a consistent generic prescription was DDK 8.66 (95% CI: DKK 4.61-12.72) per admission.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients' daily drug costs increased significantly from admission to discharge, but the cost increment did not exist one month after discharge. Although roughly one third of the prescriptions could have been substituted, the potential percentage saved only amounted to 2.9.
Rabøl
Rasmus
R
Klinisk Farmakologisk Enhed, H:S Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 København NV.
Kolbye
Anne
A
Andersen
Stig Ejdrup
SE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings; D003718:Denmark; D016527:Drug Costs; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Laegemiddelomkostninger på intern medicinske afdelinger. En analyse af udgifter for patienter og afdelinger.