title: Piloting an outpatient policy for funding drugs and their administration in rheumatology.
abstract: To ensure appropriate use of outpatient clinic resources, an inter-professional group drafted a policy for an equitable, consistent process requiring the use of patients' drug insurance. The authors' organization remains the payer of last resort. A pilot tested and further informed this policy by targeting rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis. Staff were in-serviced, resources were arranged and patients were informed. Thirty-nine pilot patients (87%) had drug insurance, resulting in a savings of $304,700. Fifty-one hospital infusions were administered in private clinics, avoiding $19,125 in clinic costs. Patient and staff/stakeholder satisfaction surveys provided valuable feedback. Lessons learned will be applied to the policy and related processes in preparation for an organizational-wide implementation.
authors.affiliation: Bernadette Chevalier, BSc (Hon), BSc Pharm, ACPR, is a drug utilization pharmacist and pharmacist education coordinator at Capital District Health Authority, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bernadette chairs the inter-professional working group and was the project lead for the pilot.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hemming
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiltz
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017046:Cost Savings; D005378:Financial Support; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents