Medication use evaluation: a work in progress.

The medication use evaluation (MUE) Program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) is a dynamic program that is constantly changing to meet the needs of this tertiary care institution. This article will provide an overview of the MUE process at UIHC as well as provide an example of a long-standing initiative that has evolved significantly since its inception in 1993. Examples of four other initiatives also will be provided to demonstrate the scope of this program. The examples to be covered in this article include: 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, alteplase, automatic substitution of cefotaxime, proton pump inhibitors, and COX-2 selective agents.