Impact of pharmacist recommendations on the cost of drug therapy in ICU patients at a Malaysian hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse clinical pharmacists interventions in the ICU of the Penang General Hospital (Penang, Malaysia) and to assess the pharmaco-economic impact of these interventions.


METHODS
A clinical pharmacist reviewed drug prescriptions during one month. Drug-related problems were documented on a prepared from including a suggestion for a change in prescribing. Such recommendations were submitted to the nursing/medical staff. Acceptance of the recommendation was entirely at the discretion of the medical staff. All recommendations were analysed with respect to potential pharmaco-economic impact: cost savings, cost avoidance or cost addition.


RESULTS
The ICU pharmacist made 57 recommendations, of which the medical staff rejected only 5%. The majority of detected drug-related problems referred to unnecessary drug therapy (37%). Recommendations resulted in net cost savings of RM 15,227 (USD 4,007). This corresponded with RM 634 per patient intervened by the pharmacist.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists interventions in the ICU of a Malaysian hospital resulted in significant cost savings in terms of drug expenses and can therefore be suggested as a routine practice in our hospital.
Zaidi
Syed Tabish Razi
ST
Department of Pharmaceutical Care, King Abdul Aziz Hospital, National Guards Health Affairs-Eastern Region, P.O. Box # 2477, Al Ahsa 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. zaidisk@ngha.med.sa
Hassan
Yahaya
Y
Postma
Maarten J
MJ
Ng
Seiw Hain
SH
D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics*; D008296:Malaysia; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D024382:Professional Role