%0 Journal Article
%T A newly developed algorithm for switching outpatient medications to medications listed in the hospital formulary: a prospective real-word evaluation in patients admitted electively to hospital.
%A Möller F
%A Oetting M
%A Spiegel A
%A Zube O
%A Bertsche T
%J Eur J Clin Pharmacol
%V 80
%N 8
%D 2024 Aug 24
%M 38656416
%F 3.064
%R 10.1007/s00228-024-03682-w
%X OBJECTIVE: In many countries, outpatient and inpatient care are separated. During hospitalization, therefore, switching the outpatient medication to medication of the hospital formulary is required.
METHODS: We newly designed a switching algorithm in six switching steps (S0-S5) and conducted a study at Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg (300 beds, 80% civilians). We performed (i) a medication reconciliation to obtain information on outpatient medications and (ii) a medication review to solve drug-related-problems, e.g., drug-drug interactions. We applied (iii) the algorithm to switch medications to the hospital formulary.
RESULTS: (i) We identified 475 outpatient medications (median per patient: 4; Q25/Q75 2/7) in 100 patients consecutively admitted to hospital (median age: 71; Q25/Q75: 64/80 years). Of 475 medications, the switching algorithm could not be used since product names were missing in 23.9% and strength in 1.7%. In 3.2%, switching was not required since medication was not prescribed during the hospital stay. (ii) Drug-drug interactions were identified in 31 of 79 patients with more than one medication. (iii) Of 475 medications, 18.5% were on the hospital formulary and therefore did not need to be switched (S0), 0.2% were on a substitution-exclusion list not allowing switching (S1), 42.0% were switched to a generic medication of the hospital formulary (S2), 1.7% to a therapeutically equivalent medication (S3), 0.4% were patient-individually switched (S4), and for 8.2% a standardized/patient-individual switching was not possible (S5).
CONCLUSIONS: Despite comprehensive medication reconciliation, patient- and medication-related information for switching medications to the hospital formulary was often missing. Once all the necessary information was available, standardized switching could be easily carried out according to a newly developed switching algorithm.