What is the primary role of Drug Utilization Review (DUR)?

The primary role of Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is to ensure safety by reviewing the patient’s medication profile. This process involves evaluating a patient’s medication history to identify potential drug interactions, duplications, contraindications, and other safety concerns. By systematically analyzing the medications a patient is taking, DUR helps healthcare providers make informed decisions regarding therapy and enhances patient safety by reducing the risk of adverse drug events.

This process is crucial because it targets the optimal use of medications, ensuring that prescribed therapies align with established guidelines and standards of care. By focusing on a comprehensive review of a patient's medications, DUR can contribute significantly to improving therapeutic outcomes and minimizing risks associated with pharmaceutical care.

While managing pharmacy inventory levels, interacting with insurance for patient coverage, and monitoring prescription costs are all important functions within a pharmacy, they do not encompass the primary intent of DUR, which is centered around patient safety and effective medication management.