Mission
The mission of the Upper Peninsula Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee is to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of health care related to drug utilization through the Upper Peninsula health-care system.



Objectives
 
To create a uniform, coordinated drug formulary.
To develop common drug-usage guidelines.
To develop a centralized purchasing strategy.
 


STEPS Approach

The Upper Peninsula Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee utilizes the STEPS approach to review medications for inclusion on the formulary.
  S      Safety
  T      Tolerability
  E      Effectiveness
  P      Price 
  S      Simplicity


The STEPS approach is used after a review of:
        Clinical Literature
        Expert Opinions
        Clinical Practice Guidelines

The review includes relevant findings of government agencies, medical associations, national commissions, peer-reviewed journals, and other relevant sources.

Cost is considered a factor in formulary decisions only when little or no difference exist in comparative efficacy and other drug-specific parameters. Manufacturer arrangement and volume discounts are considered only in respect to their effect on net drug cost.