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Biomedical subjects

Patricia W Slattum

Publications and source records attributed to Patricia W Slattum.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Resolving medication discrepancies.

When elderly patients transition from one health care setting to another they are at increased risk of experiencing fragmented care. One of the most common manifestations of this lack of continuity is medication discrepancy. These differences, such as omission of medications, dosing errors, and duplication of therapy, are a significant safety issue for seniors. This case study describes a 76-year-old woman who is a new resident in an assisted living facility and is referred to the consultant pharmacist for medication review and evaluation of possible adverse drug events. In reviewing the drug regimen, the pharmacist uncovered medication discrepancies; other members of the health care team were unaware of them. These discrepancies may have contributed to some of the patient's current health problems. This case study demonstrates the role of the consultant pharmacist during transitions of care setting and reviews strategies that the pharmacist can use to identify and resolve medication discrepancies.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

The cost of falls among the community-dwelling elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the direct medical costs of falls in the population of community-dwelling elderly. METHODS: Data from a sample of 4,025 consumers from the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were used to make estimates that were representative of the population of civilian, noninstitutionalized elderly in the United States. RESULTS: In 1997, 9% of the noninstitutionalized elderly population of the United States reported medical conditions related to falls. The estimated total direct medical cost of these conditions was dollar 6.2 billion in 1997 dollars and dollar 7.8 billion in 2002 dollars. The mean cost per person who had fallen was dollar 2,039 in 1997 dollars and dollar 2,591 in 2002 dollars. Inpatient hospitalizations accounted for 65% of total costs, followed by office-based medical visits and home health care, each accounting for about 10% of total direct medical costs, and hospital outpatient visits for 7.6%. About 78% of fall-related costs were reimbursed by Medicare. CONCLUSION: Fall-related medical conditions affect a substantial number of the community-dwelling elderly and result in direct medical costs of dollar 6 to dollar 8 billion per year in the United States. The total economic burden of falls is significantly higher because this estimate does not include direct nonmedical, intangible, and indirect costs. The results of this study highlight the importance of research aimed at decreasing the incidence and severity of falls in the elderly.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2004

Caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature pertaining to caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the role of medications and the pharmacist in reducing caregiver burden. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify relevant studies, review articles, case reports, and letters in the English language published from 1985 to September 2003. Additional references were obtained from bibliographies of these articles. STUDY SELECTION: All studies evaluating caregiver burden and AD, as well as the role of medications in reducing caregiver burden that were accessible to the authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Caring for the caregiver is a significant part of managing a patient with AD. Many predictors of caregiver burden in AD have been identified. A number of measurement tools have been developed to assess caregiver burden in the research setting. A wide variety of interventions to reduce caregiver burden have been studied. These interventions range from education and support services to drug therapies. Most often these strategies have been studied individually; however, combining drug treatments with nonpharmacologic interventions may be the best approach to improve the quality of life for the caregiver of a patient with dementia and the care recipient. Most of the studies to date of drug therapy and caregiver burden have evaluated cholinesterase inhibitors. Other drug therapies that have been studied include memantine, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and selegiline. PRIMARY CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL APPLICATIONS: The pharmacist can play an important part in reducing the caregiver burden associated with AD. It is important to identify caregivers at risk for experiencing significant caregiver burden since the consequences of excess burden to the caregiver-and the care recipient-can be devastating. Among the many tasks of providing such care, caregivers are responsible for administering and managing medications. The difficulties associated with the care recipient's medications can be reduced through effective communication, education, and services available from a pharmacist. Pharmacists are probably the most accessible health care professional for the caregiver. Being able to provide accurate information about AD and its management is an important way to ease the burden of care. Finally, pharmacists can play a significant part in supporting the community in caring for the families of patients with Alzheimer's disease by volunteering with the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Strategies for prevention of medication-related falls in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature pertaining to the relationship between medications and fall risk in the elderly, and the role of the pharmacist in preventing falls. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify relevant studies, review articles, case reports, and letters in the English language published from 1985 to June 2002. Additional references were obtained from bibliographies of those articles. STUDY SELECTION: All studies evaluating the relationship between medications and falls, or the role of the pharmacist in preventing falls, that were accessible to the authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Pharmacists have tremendous opportunities caring for patients who are considered to be at risk for a fall. Numerous drugs have been suspected of contributing to the risk of a fall. With proper identification of risk factors, the pharmacist can appropriately select medications while monitoring their efficacy and adverse effects, assist in early detection and treatment of common medical problems that contribute to falls, perform environmental-hazard assessments, provide patient and caregiver education, and suggest physical therapy and gait and balance training. Once a fall has occurred, the pharmacist can reduce the risk of a subsequent fall by reviewing medications and other risk factors, recommending drug therapy changes, and educating other health care professionals and caregivers. Interventions by pharmacists have been shown to reduce the rate of falls significantly. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL APPLICATIONS: Pharmacists have many opportunities to reduce the risk of a fall. The assessment of each patient for risk factors should guide therapeutic choices for underlying diseases. Prevention of falls should be accomplished by reducing environmental risks, properly identifying and managing age-related changes in the individual, utilizing appropriate medications when warranted, and discontinuing medications that are not needed. Pharmacists can also provide valuable expertise in educating other health care professionals regarding fall risks and the appropriate usage of medications.

Journal Article↗