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G. Caleb Alexander Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine; Affiliate faculty of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics Areas of Expertise:
John Easton |
Background:
Dr. Alexander is a practicing general internist and expert in clinical prescribing, pharmacoepidemiology, and pharmaceutical policy. His research focuses on patient-physician decision-making regarding prescription drugs and broader patterns of prescription utilization. After completing a widely cited study suggesting that patient-physician communication about prescription costs is important yet neglected, Dr. Alexander led a series of follow-up studies to describe barriers to greater communication, strategies that physicians can use to lower patients' costs, and new ethical challenges to physicians in the era of cost-sharing. He has also investigated how different strategies that physicians may use to assist patients (e.g., use of 90-day supplies, free samples) impact patients' bottom line. In addition to work focused on clinical prescribing, Dr. Alexander has also spearheaded studies to examine broader patterns of prescription drug utilization, many which have had important implications for pharmaceutical policy. This work includes investigations of changes in the treatment of diabetes during the past two decades; differences in hypertension treatment and control between Western Europe and the United States; the diffusion of a new class of pharmaceuticals, Cox-2 inhibitors, beyond the population that stood to gain the most from their use; policy analyses of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit; and clinical and policy dimensions of off-label prescribing.
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News clippings:
Regimens: Drug Samples Found to Affect Spending NEW YORK TIMES April 1, 2008 Study: U.S. best controls high blood pressure Experts Argue Over Allocation of Bird Flu Vaccine "Cox-2 Drugs Overprescribed for Years, Study Says" |
Press releases:
Off-label use: oft not evidence based Cost of diabetes treatment nearly doubled since 2001 First rigorous analysis defines impact of Medicare Part D |
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Chronicle articles:
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Additional materials:
Website |
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