What is a Drug Utilization Review (DUR)?

A Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is fundamentally a process that evaluates the appropriateness of prescribed medications. It ensures that drugs being prescribed are suitable for the patient’s health condition and are utilized properly to maximize therapeutic outcomes while minimizing potential risks. DUR assesses various factors such as drug interactions, dosage appropriateness, and adherence to clinical guidelines.

This evaluation helps to identify any discrepancies or issues with medication therapy, such as over-prescribing, under-prescribing, or misuse of medication, ultimately promoting patient safety and improving health outcomes. By focusing on the appropriateness of medications, DUR plays a critical role in ensuring effective medication therapy management, which is essential in providing quality healthcare.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary purpose of a DUR. For instance, while tracking patient health outcomes is important, it is not the main focus of a DUR. Similarly, promoting over-the-counter drugs is unrelated to the review process, and reviewing past patient appointments does not pertain to the evaluation of medication use directly. Therefore, the emphasis on assessing the appropriateness of prescribed medications distinctly defines the role of a Drug Utilization Review.