The Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee: Organization & Functions

Organization:

1. Members:

• The composition of the P&T Committee usually includes:

  1. Pharmacists

  2. Physicians (often representing various medical specialties)

  3. Nurses

  4. Hospital administrators

  5. Other relevant healthcare professionals

2. Subcommittees:

• To handle the breadth of its responsibilities, the P&T Committee may have several subcommittees, each specializing in a particular area.

• Examples of these subcommittees might include:

  1. Adverse drug reaction (ADR) subcommittee

  2. Medication usage evaluation (MUE) subcommittee

  3. Formulary review subcommittee
     

3. Frequency of Meetings:

• Most P&T Committees meet regularly, perhaps monthly or quarterly, depending on the institution's size and needs.

4. Leadership Structure:

• Typically, there's a chair (often a physician) and a co-chair (usually a pharmacist).

• They lead the meetings and set the agenda, ensuring that all relevant topics are discussed, and appropriate decisions are made.

5. Documentation & Communication:

• Proper documentation of meeting minutes and decisions is crucial.

• These records are vital for historical referencing, decision-making consistency, and communicating decisions to relevant stakeholders in the healthcare institution.
  

6. Collaboration with Other Departments:

• The P&T Committee collaborates closely with other departments in the hospital or healthcare institution.

• This collaboration ensures that decisions about medication use are consistent with the institution's overall patient care goals.

Here is the diagram illustrating the organization of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee:

Functions:

1. Formulary Management:

• Deciding which drugs are included on the institution's formulary, and under what conditions.

2. Medication Use Evaluation (MUE):

• Reviewing and assessing medication use patterns to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

3. Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring & Reporting:

• Monitoring for potential adverse reactions to medications and ensuring that these are reported and addressed.

4. Drug Use Policy:

• Developing and updating policies related to drug use, storage, and distribution within the institution.

5. Drug Information:

• Providing evidence-based drug information to healthcare providers within the institution.
  

6. Therapeutic Interchange:

• Establishing policies that allow for the substitution of equivalent, but potentially cheaper, drugs without a new prescription.

7. Medication Safety Initiatives:

• Creating and promoting strategies to improve medication safety across the institution.

8. Education & Training:

• Offering continuing education and training on drug-related topics for the healthcare staff.

Here is a diagram illustrating the functions of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee:

The P&T Committee, with its organization and functions, ensures that the use of medications within a healthcare institution is evidence-based, safe, effective, and in line with the institution's overall patient care objectives.