Geriatric Medication Precautions – 4 Hours

Description

Managing medications for older adults can be challenging due to their physiological and cognitive changes. In this course, we will explore the reasons why geriatric patients require special medication precautions, discuss the available tools for medication review to reduce inappropriate and polypharmacy prescribing practices, and examine methods to prevent drug-related problems in older adults. Additionally, we will consider some recommendations to help seniors improve their medication use.

Upon completion of this course (Geriatric Medication Precautions), pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will be able to: 

• Recognize the reasons why the elderly population requires special medication precautions.
• Identify the potential drug-related problems with medications prescribed to the elderly.
• Define prescribing cascade and learn to detect it to prevent medication problems in older people.
• Describe the IGRIMUP and its role in the global effort to reduce inappropriate and polypharmacy prescribing practices in older adults.
• List the tools available to identify pharmacotherapy problems and modify and improve a drug regimen for older adults.
• Review the Beers Criteria and the rationale for use in preventing Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIM) and other drugs to avoid in older persons.
• Explain the STOPP/START criteria and how they help minimize potentially inappropriate prescribing in the elderly.
• Examine the reasoning behind Deprescribing and why it is essential to good prescribing practices.
• Evaluate the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) and its reliability as a quality measure for potentially inappropriate prescribing.
• Describe the ARMOR protocol, its primary outcome goals, and the functional status and mobility of elderly patients.
• Recognize the Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice Algorithm and how physicians use it to reduce polypharmacy.
• Recognize the FORTA method, a clinical tool designed to increase the appropriateness of pharmacotherapy in older adults.
• Identify other supportive tools, such as the Anticholinergic Risk Scale, Prescribing Optimization Method, and Drug Burden Index, used to resolve polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and potentially omitted drugs.
• Discuss the effect a CMR conducted by a pharmacist can have in decreasing medication-related complications for the elderly.
• Categorize recommendations to give seniors on how to manage their medications safely to avoid drug-related problems.
• Describe methods to prevent drug-related problems before prescribing and after prescribing medication for older adults.

Author: Elvia Sellountos, Pharm D, RPh  

Contact Hours: 4 Hours 

Activity Type: Knowledge-Based Home Study 

Instructional Methods:  Online Independent Self-Study (Training + Post-Test)

Target Audience: Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP), and Nurse Practitioners (NP)

Cost: $25 / Participant

UAN: Pharmacist: 0384-9999-24-082-H05-P Technicians: 0384-9999-24-082-H05-T

Release Date: 09/03/2024               Expiration Date: 09/03/2027

Course Completion Certificate:  A minimum passing score of 70% is required for course completion. A Printable (PDF) Certificate By Email. Credit will be reported to the CPE monitor within 30 days of completion.

The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing education.

NPTA approves Biologix Solutions LLC as a Joint Provider of continuing pharmacy education. Approval

Disclaimers: Elvia Sellountos has no actual or potential conflict of interest regarding this program. It received no commercial support and has been peer-reviewed to ensure non-commercialization.

Cancellation / Refund Policy: By completing your purchase from Biologix Solutions LLC through PayPal, you agree that you are purchasing digital, non-tangible product/service/training courses and, as such, are not entitled to a refund once accessed. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone or email before purchasing the online course.