Drug Utilization Review (also known as Evaluation, Drug Utilization, Drug-Use Review): Formal programs for assessing drug prescription against some standard. Drug utilization review may consider clinical appropriateness, cost effectiveness, and, in some cases, outcomes. Review is usually retrospective, but some analysi
NIH MeSH · D017723Health Care
Drug Utilization Review
Also known asEvaluation, Drug Utilization · Drug-Use Review · Drug Use Review · Drug-Use Reviews · Reviews, Drug-Use · Drug Utilization Evaluation · Drug Utilization Evaluations · Evaluations, Drug Utilization · Utilization Evaluation, Drug · Utilization Evaluations, Drug · Review, Drug Utilization · Drug Utilization Reviews
Definition
Formal programs for assessing drug prescription against some standard. Drug utilization review may consider clinical appropriateness, cost effectiveness, and, in some cases, outcomes. Review is usually retrospective, but some analysis may be done before drugs are dispensed (as in computer systems which advise physicians when prescriptions are entered). Drug utilization review is mandated for Medicaid programs beginning in 1993.
MeSH classification
N04.452.706.477.400
N04.761.879.300
N05.700.900.300
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What does Drug Utilization Review mean in medicine?
Formal programs for assessing drug prescription against some standard. Drug utilization review may consider clinical appropriateness, cost effectiveness, and, in some cases, outcomes. Review is usually retrospective, but some analysis may be done before drugs are dispensed (as in computer systems which advise physicians when prescriptions are entered). Drug utilization review is mandated for Medicaid programs beginning in 1993. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Drug Utilization Review known by any other names?
Yes. Drug Utilization Review is also referred to as Evaluation, Drug Utilization, Drug-Use Review, Drug Use Review, Drug-Use Reviews in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Drug Utilization Review sit in the medical classification?
Drug Utilization Review falls under the broader medical category "Health Care" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: N04.452.706.477.400, N04.761.879.300, N05.700.900.300). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Drug Utilization Review?
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