Healthcare Quarterly, 16(3) July 2013: 42-47.doi:10.12927/hcq.2013.23498
Value for Money
Piloting an Outpatient Policy for Funding Drugs and Their Administration in Rheumatology
Abstract
To ensure appropriate use of outpatient clinic resources, an inter-professional group drafted a policy for an equitable, consistent process requiring the use of patients' drug insurance. The authors' organization remains the payer of last resort. A pilot tested and further informed this policy by targeting rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis. Staff were in-serviced, resources were arranged and patients were informed. Thirty-nine pilot patients (87%) had drug insurance, resulting in a savings of $304,700. Fifty-one hospital infusions were administered in private clinics, avoiding $19,125 in clinic costs. Patient and staff/stakeholder satisfaction surveys provided valuable feedback. Lessons learned will be applied to the policy and related processes in preparation for an organizational-wide implementation.
This article is for subscribers only.
To view the entire article, sign in if you are a subscriber. Or select one of the options below.
Personal Subscriber? Sign In
Please note: To register for an event you must sign-in as an individual or create a personal Longwood's account. Thank you.
Comments
Be the first to comment on this!
You must sign in to comment Sign In or Create an Account to add comments
Related Content
Healthcare Quarterly
HealthcarePapers
Towards a Community-Based Dementia Care Strategy: A Perspective from Quebec
HealthcarePapers
Breaking the Deadlock: Lessons from Pan-Canadian Organizations