What does Drug Utilization Review (DUR) monitor?

Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is a process that primarily focuses on evaluating prescribing patterns, ensuring that medications are used appropriately and effectively. The goal of DUR is to provide a systematic assessment of prescribing practices to promote safe and effective therapy for patients. It examines factors such as the appropriateness of prescribed medications, potential drug interactions, and adherence to clinical guidelines.

This monitoring is crucial as it helps to identify any issues with medication use that could lead to adverse outcomes or inefficiencies in treatment. By analyzing prescribing patterns, health care providers can improve the quality of care and ensure that patients receive the medications that are most appropriate for their conditions.

While monitoring patient outcomes, market trends, and medication costs can also provide useful insights in a broader pharmaceutical context, these aspects are not the primary focus of DUR. Instead, DUR targets the specifics of how medications are prescribed and utilized, making it a vital component of medication management and health care quality improvement.