Medication Therapy Management
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Originally funded as a pilot research project by the Nevada Division for Aging Services, the Medication Therapy Management clinical service program offers Nevada seniors 60 and older who are taking five or more prescriptions a free assessment of their medications and supplements. The goal is to improve the health of seniors by encouraging better management of their entire drug regimen by making sure their medications are safe, appropriate and not interacting in an unhealthy way.
How it works
The program offers free, confidential medication reviews to seniors taking five or more medications. A Certified Geriatric Pharmacist reviews the participant’s entire drug regimen – prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins and herbal supplements – for interactions, safety and effectiveness and recommends geriatric-specific solutions to limit potential medication-related problems. A case manager then coordinates with the client and the client’s physician to ensure that the client is receiving proper medication.
Findings
Past results from the Medication Therapy Management program have found that among seniors participating:
- 79% were at risk of interactions between two or more prescription drugs.
- 40% were taking a drug not recommended for older adults.
- 32% had an interaction between a prescription and an over-the-counter drug.
- 15% were unknowingly receiving duplicate medications.
Program Results
- The average number of prescription medications taken by participants in the program was 10.700.
- 40.8% of participants were taking a prescription or over the counter drug that is considered inappropriate for use in elders as determined by the Beer’s criteria.
- 80% of the participants had a prescription to prescription drug interaction identified by the pharmacist.
- 32.5% of participants had a prescription to over the counter drug interaction.
- 16.7% of participants had a prescription to vitamin drug interaction.
- 15% of participants had a duplication of prescription drugs.
- 38.3% of the participants were given a recommendation made by the pharmacist that pertained to a particular drug they were taking and they way it affected a diagnosis or condition they had.
- 79.2% of participants were given a recommendation that pertained to side effects from a drug they were potentially experiencing.
- 49.2% of participants were given a recommendation to substitute a drug they were taking with another more effective or appropriate drug.
- 71.7% of participants were given a recommendation to change the schedule in which they take their drugs.
Professional Presentations
The Sanford Center for Aging presented the Medication Management Pilot Project at the American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging joint conference, March 11, 2005, in Philadelphia. View the PowerPoint presentation that includes project data and information about geriatrics in Philadelphia medication management.
- Medication Therapy Management Program
- ASA-NCOA Annual Conference Medication Management Pilot Project Presentation
- American Public Health Association Conference Medication Management Pilot Project Presentation
Geriatric Pharmacists
Chris Shea, PharmD, C.G.P. – is a certified geriatric pharmacist and practices as a Clinical Pharmacist in Reno, Nevada. Dr. Shea earned a doctoral degree in Pharmacy in May 1999 from Idaho State University.
Other Resources
- State of Nevada Division for Aging Services: http://aging.state.nv.us
- Nevada Senior RX Program: http://nevadaseniorrx.nv.gov
- Consumer Health Assistance: http://www.rxhelp4nv.org
- Senior Care Pharmacist: http://www.seniorcarepharmacist.com
- American Society of Consultant Pharmacists: http://www.ascp.org
- Nevada State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): http://www.nvaging.net/ship/ship_main.htm
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list.
Telephone: (775) 784-1612
Fax: (775) 784-1814
Email: Teresa Sacks
Mailing Address
Sanford Center for Aging ~ 146Medication Therapy Management
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557-0146
Physical Address
800 Haskell Street ~ 2nd Floor
Reno, NV 89509