If a hospital has a closed formulary, the physician should:

A closed formulary means that the hospital has a limited list of medications that are approved for use within the institution. In this context, when a physician is working within a closed formulary system, they are required to prescribe medications that are listed on the hospital's formulary.

This approach is designed to streamline medication management, ensure the availability of essential drugs, and manage costs effectively. Since the physician must adhere to the formulary, they are not permitted to order any medication outside of what has been approved by the hospital's formulary committee.

Ordering medications that are on the formulary helps to maintain consistency in patient care and ensures that the medications available have been evaluated for efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Thus, when a physician is operating within a closed formulary, they should order medications that are included in that formulary only.