The Consultant pharmacist : the journal of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
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The increased use of prescription drugs has brought pain relief too many and often improved the quality of life of elderly patients. But the increase in use and availability of prescription medications-especially controlled substances-brings with it an increased potential for abuse. ⋯ As the number of persons 65 years of age and older skyrockets with the aging of the baby boomers, experts predict that prescription drug abuse among the elderly also will rise significantly. Efforts to increase awareness of drug abuse among elderly patients, caregivers, and health care practitioners, as well as research into how best to prevent and treat the elderly drug abuser, will be necessary to thwart what could become a significant public health problem.
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Medication therapy management (MTM) services can improve the quality of life for patients and promote more efficient and cost-effective care by improving therapeutic outcomes. Pharmacists, in particular, are looking for ways to provide MTM now that they have been recognized as providers under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Still in its early stages, MTM offers an opportunity for pharmacists to use their extensive knowledge of medication therapy in a new arena that may be a harbinger of future pharmacy practice.
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Every busy professional needs support in the form of a well-trained assistant. In many practice settings, pharmacy technicians have assumed greater responsibilities and are vital in pharmacy practice, freeing pharmacists to concentrate on clinical care concerns. In many ways, the history of the pharmacy technician movement parallels that of pharmacists themselves.
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Adverse drug events (ADEs) are all too common in older patients. Although there are multiple causes for the ADEs in the elderly, alterations in pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) are frequent culprits. These alterations in PK and PD may be part of the normal aging process. ⋯ In addition, because older people tend to use more medications, the incidence of drug-drug interactions becomes more prevalent. Most of the drug-drug interactions that adversely impact older people involve both PK and PD mechanisms. Pharmacists and all prescribers must have a sound understanding of PK and PD effects of medications used in older people to provide optimal care and avoid preventable drug-related problems.
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To familiarize the consultant pharmacist with the new American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) guideline for the management of anemia in the long-term care setting and with the responsibilities of each member of the interdisciplinary care team in anemia management. ⋯ The consultant pharmacist can fill a crucial role in improving the recognition and management of anemia in the long-term care setting. Familiarity with the recommendations put forth in the AMDA guideline can assist consultant pharmacists in developing protocols that can be followed by members of the interdisciplinary care team and can improve the quality of life of patients with anemia.