How to influence physician prescriptions
Here’s one way to get doctors to write prescriptions for lower-priced drugs: Make it a pain to do otherwise. Concerned about the number of prescriptions for expensive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Voltaren, Naprosyn, and Ansaid), administrators at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta decided to try a simple but dreaded intervention: a requisition form.
Along with writing a prescription for one of those drugs, doctors were required to fill out the form, which asked for the patient’s name, condition, and the names of the two generic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) tried before the doctor considered writing a prescription for a more expensive one.
The physicians quickly changed their ways, resulting in $92,914 in savings for the 8.5 month study period. The authors speculated that one reason the intervention worked so well was that little difference exists among NSAIDs, so it’s medically reasonable to prescribe the cheapest.
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