In article <[log in to unmask]>, Katie Law <katie@utu-
mno.demon.co.uk> writes
> Jeff Green <[log in to unmask]> quotes:
>
>>A GP will prescribe, on average, between 250 and 350 different
>>drugs every week.
No way. Most GPs have a basic personal formulary of betwen 250-350
different drugs from which they choose one to prescribe.
>A strategy which helps a doctor for example make the
>>right decisions in selecting drugs from a vast range of medicines
>>which will help to maximise the health benefits for their patients
>>and insure cost effectiveness, bringing additional benefits to
>>patients, GPs and the NHS.
This is pretty meaningless in any pragmatic sense.
>I actually like the idea of prescribing support,
A good idea but probably very difficult to implement successfully.
>It isn't really that difficult is it?
No, but it does take time. NICE may be well positioned to help here but
I doubt they will, or if they do then cost-effectiveness will probabbly
be a major factor.
>I don't sit there openly pontificating *which shall we try now?* every
>time I write a prescription.
I don't think anybody does. Its just the wide variation in individual
prescribing habits which begs the question of correctness. Unless you
subscribe to the view that most prescribing doesn't alter total
mortality or morbidity, just changes it around.
>Maybe I am just overly-defensive feeling my current workstyle is
>threatened at every move?
It is.
Regards
George
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