Drug Dictionary Utilities Overview

A formulary is a subset of prescribable drugs/products that help to direct prescribers towards the most appropriate, evidence based and cost-effective items. These can be selected from the current Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (DM+D).

You can create a practice-wide drug formulary one of three ways:

• Vision 3 can compile a list of the most used drugs in your practice, this can be edited and used as a basis for your formulary.
• Create a formulary from a blank list.
• Import an existing Formulary, for example, from another practice or CCG/Health Board, this can be modified if required
  See - Import Formulary .

Why Create a Drug Formulary?

A practice formulary enables you to create a practice-wide preferential list of prescribable drugs.

This also allows for quick and easy selection of the most prescribed drugs within Consultation Manager and can help to control generic prescribing. You still have the clinical freedom of selecting drugs outside of the Formulary if required.

From Consultation Manager you are also able to add and remove items from the formulary on an ad-hoc basis.

What is Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (DM+D)?

DM&D is a dictionary containing unique identifiers and associated textual descriptions for medicines and medical devices. It has been developed for use throughout the UK as a means of uniquely identifying the specific medicines or devices used in the diagnosis or treatment of patients. Benefits of using DM+D includes, providing clear, unambiguous information leading to reliable exchange of information on medicine and medical devices.