If a hospital has a closed formulary, what should the physician do?

In a hospital with a closed formulary, the medications available for prescribing are limited to those included in the hospital's specific formulary. This approach is typically implemented to control costs, ensure the safety and efficacy of medications used, and streamline the medication management process within the institution.

When a physician is faced with a closed formulary, they must order medications only from the list of approved items within the hospital's formulary. This ensures that all prescribed medications have been evaluated and deemed appropriate for use within that specific healthcare setting. It also prevents unnecessary complications or delays that could arise from attempting to prescribe medications not included in the formulary, as these may require special approvals or may not be stocked in the pharmacy.

Ordering medications from an open formulary or outside the designated list would go against the restrictions in place in a closed formulary system. Consulting with a pharmacist can be beneficial for gaining insights or clarifications about formulary restrictions, but the physician ultimately must operate within the constraints of the closed formulary when making medication orders. Therefore, adhering to the formulary guidelines is essential for ensuring effective patient care within the hospital.