Our hospital has a policy that allows pharmacy to change every order for Demerol to Dilaudid. I was talking to the chief of staff and he said that Demerol is the drug of choice for those "seeking" narcs. I understand the reasoning, but wonder why they don't target the docs who keep writing the Demerol orders in the first place? One day the ER nurse was giving report to me and mentioned a PRN Demerol order for the floor. When I mentioned it would be switched to Dilaudid- she had never heard of about it. The switching of certain drugs by pharmacy happens regularly and is true for many drugs (not just narcs). Some of our doctors are resistant and continue to write for the very drugs that are always changed. I was joking with one pharmacist and mentioned that before long we won't even need physician's. She looked at me (without cracking a smile) and said I was right. I value our pharmacy staff and would like to think that the changes are made to benefit the patient and are not totally focusing on the bottom dollar.
I am wondering what goes on in other hospitals?