Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Overview

Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC)

• The PTC is a communication bridge between the hospital's medical staff and pharmacy department.
• Composed of doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
• Main functions are advisory and educational.
• Aims to create policies related to drug use, selection, and evaluation.
• Provides education to healthcare professionals on the latest drug-related information.

PTC Organizational Structure and Operations

• Minimum of 3 doctors, a pharmacist, a nurse, and an administrator are required for membership.
• A physician acts as the chairperson, with a pharmacist usually serving as the secretary.
• The committee meets at least 6 times a year or more often depending on the need.
• The Secretary prepares meeting agendas, supplementary materials, and minutes.
• Minutes of the meetings are maintained as permanent records.

Drug Classifications

• Conditional, Trial Period: FDA-approved drugs that the PTC evaluates for 6-12 months before final approval.
• Specialized Formulary Drug: FDA-approved drugs recommended for specific patient care needs. Prescribing is restricted to authorized personnel.
• Investigational Drug: FDA-approved for specific research use by the principal investigator and designated associates.
• Non-Formulary Drugs: Drugs not included in the four categories and will not be stocked. Prescriptions require the pharmacy to obtain a limited quantity from external sources.
• Generic Names: The Formulary system uses generic drug names for dispensing.

Drug Recall

• Recalls are initiated by manufacturers, regulatory agencies, or the Pharmacy Department.
• Recalls might be general or specific to certain lot numbers.
• Recalled drugs are removed and replaced.
• Information is shared with staff and relevant departments.

Inpatient Prescribing

• Routine Drug Orders: Written by physicians on patient order forms, and a copy is sent to the pharmacy.
• Intravenous (IV) Orders: Include details of drug quantity, infusate solution, administration method (IV drip, IV bolus, etc.), infusion time, drip rate, and continuation/discontinuation instructions.
• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN): Nutritional infusions prepared extemporaneously by the pharmacy department.
• Self-Medication: Only Nitroglycerin and Antacids are allowed for patient self-administration as directed by a physician.
• Automatic Stop Orders: Designed to prevent indefinite open-ended drug orders.
  • Controlled drugs: 24-hour automatic stop
  • Other drugs: 7-day automatic stop
• New Medication Orders: Required for dosage or administration route changes.
• Discharge Prescription: Separate prescriptions are needed for each medication the patient will take home. Prescriptions must be processed by the pharmacy before patient discharge.
• Emergency (STAT) Orders: Used sparingly; medications are usually obtained from the nursing station's emergency drug supplies.

Investigational Drug Use

• Maintaining uninterrupted dosage schedules is essential during nights, weekends, and when the principal investigator is absent.
• Written patient consent is typically obtained by physicians before the use of investigational drugs.
• The hospital pharmacist keeps dispensing records for investigational drugs.

Drug Defect Reporting

• Includes issues like faulty packaging, confusing labels, deteriorated drug forms, incorrect drug quantities, and faulty drug delivery devices.

Emergency Drug Listing

• The PTC creates a list of emergency drugs and supplies for emergency boxes.
• Boxes are maintained in various locations like pavilions, clinics, emergency wards, and special procedures rooms.
• The emergency drug supplies include syringes, needles, airways, tourniquets, and a range of medications.
• Medications in emergency boxes are for immediate interventions in critical situations.

Explore the roles, structure, and operations of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC). This quiz covers the committee's purpose in bridging communication between medical staff and pharmacy departments, its organizational structure, and its drug classification responsibilities. Test your knowledge about the PTC's functions and importance in healthcare.