title: Economic impact of converting from 10-mL insulin vials to 3-mL vials and pens in a hospital setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The economic impact associated with the conversion from 10-mL vials of insulin to 3-mL vials and pens at a community hospital was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacy purchasing and administrative data from Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon, were used in this analysis. The hospital converted floor-stock 10-mL vials of insulin in October 2010 to individual patient supply (IPS) 3-mL vials and pens. Insulin acquisition costs from the nine-month preconversion period were compared with those during the nine-month postconversion period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the conversion, total acquisition costs were $168,783 for 5,086,500 units of insulin. After the conversion, total acquisition costs were reduced by 8.6% (to $154,303) and units purchased were reduced by 33.1% (to 3,404,900 units of insulin). The analyses also examined the results of converting to 3-mL vials of rapid-, short-, or intermediate-acting insulin to 3-mL pens of long-acting insulin analog. Conversion from 10- to 3-mL vials was associated with a 37.6% reduction in units of insulin and a 23.5% reduction in acquisition costs. In contrast, switching from 10-mL vials to 3-mL pens was associated with a 10.1% increase in costs, despite the fact that there was a 11.5% reduction in units purchased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conversion from floor-stock 10-mL insulin vials to IPS 3-mL insulin vials or pens reduced the number of units of insulin purchased and expenditures for insulin. The overall cost savings was driven by the conversion from 10- to 3-mL vials, whereas cost increased for the conversion of 10-mL vials to 3-mL pens for long-acting insulin analogs.
authors.affiliation: Gary Edmondson, B.S.Pharm., M.S., is Director of Pharmacy, Palms West Hospital, Loxahatchee, FL; at the time of writing, he was Director of Pharmacy, Providence St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, OR. John Criswell, Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacist, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River, OR; at the time of writing, he was Clinical Pharmacist, Providence St. Vincent Hospital. Linda Krueger, M.H.A., RN, is Outcomes Liaison Consultant; and Elizabeth L. Eby, M.P.H., is Research Scientist, Global Patient Outcomes and Real World Evidence, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edmondson
authors.affiliation: Gary Edmondson, B.S.Pharm., M.S., is Director of Pharmacy, Palms West Hospital, Loxahatchee, FL; at the time of writing, he was Director of Pharmacy, Providence St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, OR. John Criswell, Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacist, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River, OR; at the time of writing, he was Clinical Pharmacist, Providence St. Vincent Hospital. Linda Krueger, M.H.A., RN, is Outcomes Liaison Consultant; and Elizabeth L. Eby, M.P.H., is Research Scientist, Global Patient Outcomes and Real World Evidence, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Criswell
authors.affiliation: Gary Edmondson, B.S.Pharm., M.S., is Director of Pharmacy, Palms West Hospital, Loxahatchee, FL; at the time of writing, he was Director of Pharmacy, Providence St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, OR. John Criswell, Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacist, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River, OR; at the time of writing, he was Clinical Pharmacist, Providence St. Vincent Hospital. Linda Krueger, M.H.A., RN, is Outcomes Liaison Consultant; and Elizabeth L. Eby, M.P.H., is Research Scientist, Global Patient Outcomes and Real World Evidence, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.affiliation: Gary Edmondson, B.S.Pharm., M.S., is Director of Pharmacy, Palms West Hospital, Loxahatchee, FL; at the time of writing, he was Director of Pharmacy, Providence St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, OR. John Criswell, Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacist, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River, OR; at the time of writing, he was Clinical Pharmacist, Providence St. Vincent Hospital. Linda Krueger, M.H.A., RN, is Outcomes Liaison Consultant; and Elizabeth L. Eby, M.P.H., is Research Scientist, Global Patient Outcomes and Real World Evidence, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN. eby_elizabeth_l@lilly.com.
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Eby
mesh_terms: D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000191:economics; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D061266:Insulin, Short-Acting / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D009922:Oregon; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D061266:Insulin, Short-Acting