CONTEXT Retrospective drug utilization review is required of all state Medicaid programs and is performed by most private-sector prescription programs. However, it has not been shown to improve clinical outcomes or reduce the rate of potential prescribing errors, known as "exceptions." OBJECTIVE To look for an effect of retrospective drug utilization review on the rate of exceptions and of cl...

In the Call Letter, CMS encourages ACOs to find Part D plan sponsor partners through a request for proposal process. I do believe that ACOs have an incentive to work with PDPs to control medical costs, including preventing readmissions. However, ACOs have no incentive to work to appropriately manage Part D utilization and may have incentives to increase Part D utilization to prevent the use of ...

The Open University's repository of research publications and other research outputs Media transformation and new practices of citizenship: the example of environmental activism in South Dur-ban Journal Article How to cite: Barnett, Clive (2002). Media transformation and new practices of citizenship: the example of environmental activism in South Durban. Transformation(51), pp. 1–21.

Possession by a spirit or demon or God is an age old phenomenon which is still being reported from many countries all over the world. Possession syndrome is defined as an episodic disruption of behavior dur ing which it is presumed tha t the subject 's personality has been replaced by that of a spirit or God (Wintrob, 1973 ; Wijesinghe et al., 1976). I ts manifestations, purpose and consequence...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Information available on drug consumption is inadequate in most low and middle income countries. This systematic review was conducted to analyse published work on drug utilization research/studies (DUR) in the SEARO region of WHO for study objectives, methodology, results and recommendations and to identify the need for improving DUR and the use of the ATC/DDD system. ...

Based on a comprehensive literature search, this meta review analyzes to what extent past literature reviews on IS business value have covered key research areas and preserved their key findings. The results show that while some areas have been explored extensively, some other crucial areas, such as accounting performance, the growth of intangible assets, and the differentiation between economi...

PURPOSE The purpose of this review is to provide guidance that aids in the practical design, implementation, and analysis of medication use evaluations (MUEs) for postsurgical pain management. SUMMARY Clinicians have long employed drug use evaluations or drug utilization reviews to ensure the safe and appropriate use of medications in a hospital, medical practice, or other healthcare setting....

BACKGROUND Cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem are among the broadest-spectrum and most expensive antimicrobials. AIM To evaluate guidelines for appropriate use of these drugs. METHODS We developed guidelines for use of these antibiotics, and conducted a two-phase drug utilization evaluation. We included all patients who received one of the study drugs during two 3-month periods...

OBJECTIVES This report describes the development process of a drug dosing database for ethical drugs approved by the Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA). The goal of this study was to develop a computerized system that supports physicians' prescribing decisions, particularly in regards to medication dosing. METHODS The advisory committee, comprised of doctors, pharmacists, and nurses from...