What is the purpose of a drug utilization review (DUR)?

The purpose of a drug utilization review (DUR) is to evaluate prescribed medications for potential problems. This process is critical in ensuring patient safety and optimizing therapeutic outcomes. DUR involves checking for various factors, such as drug interactions, duplicate therapies, contraindications, and appropriate dosages, which can help prevent adverse drug events and improve patient adherence to prescriptions.

By focusing on the medications prescribed to patients, DUR allows healthcare providers to identify potential issues before they occur, helping to ensure that patients receive safe and effective pharmaceutical care. This proactive approach is essential for monitoring therapeutic regimens and making necessary adjustments to enhance patient outcomes.

The other options do not encapsulate the primary goal of a DUR. While assessing the supply levels of medications is important for inventory management, it does not directly relate to evaluating patient safety or therapeutic efficacy. Similarly, determining cost-effectiveness can be valuable, but it is not the primary function of a DUR, which is centered on the safety and appropriateness of medication use. Scheduling follow-up appointments, while crucial in a comprehensive patient care plan, falls outside the scope of what a DUR encompasses.