In the practical application of Prescriptor, different source formularies can be used side by side. National, regional and even local therapy agreement databases can be consulted alongside one another. The order in which this is done, can be set by the end user. If a prescription advice for 'depression' is requested, for example, the associated indications from the different source formularies are shown in the order of preference. If no indication is available within a particular source, Prescriptor will search at the next deeper level in the pyramid. Naturally, the various layers within the pyramid can also be maintained separately. Pharmacotherapy policies can thus be set up in a complementary way at national, regional and local levels, to be applied in practice. The emphasis is on 'complementary': it is not necessary to rethink all agreements in all fields.

1. FTO / Local formulary

FTO or PTC (pharmacotherapeutic consultation) agreements are local and practical conversions of national guidelines, to render them more manageable for health care providers. For a therapy's effectiveness and safety, such an alignment in the pharmaceutical care chain has proved both useful and effective. These agreements can be maintained independently within the EPS pyramid by health care groups using the Formulary Wizard and can be made accessible automatically within Prescriptor. A familiar example is FTO/PTC Asten. In this group, the effectiveness of this approach has been proven beyond doubt.

2. Regional formulary

Regional formularies are set up to promote transmural matching of therapy agreements between primary and secondary care. It is good that general practitioners and specialists know which medications have been prescribed initially within a therapeutic group in primary care and which alternative medications can be used for subsequent treatment by a specialist.
For a therapy's effectiveness and safety, such an alignment in the pharmaceutical care chain has proved both useful and effective. These agreements can be maintained independently within the EPS pyramid by formulary committees using the Formulary Wizard, and can be made accessible automatically within Prescriptor.

3. National formulary

For some twenty years, Digitalis has been publishing the digital version of the national formulary for general practitioners in collaboration with the Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG). This formulary is a standard component of Prescriptor and in fact contains the conversion of the NHG standards regarding pharmacotherapy policy. It constitutes the basis of the EPS pyramid, not in the last place because this formulary is very elaborate. The NHG EPS is therefore a solid foundation, which can be used - if necessary - as a basis for small-scale therapy agreements, as listed in the other layers of the pyramid. For the individual general practitioner, the NHG EPS is invaluable in order to effectively put the pharmacotherapeutic principles of the NHG standards into practice.