Polypharmacy Implications in Home Care: Part One

Presented by Erica Wilson

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Video Runtime: 38 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 24 Minutes

More than 77 million baby boomers have reached their 70s, according to a 2017 nationwide survey. An aging population is often associated with complex medication regimens and negative effects that are too frequently ignored. Polypharmacy is a growing concern in our health care system, both in elderly and other special populations. This course identifies and discusses factors that contribute to polypharmacy to provide clinicians with an understanding of the possible negative effects on patient health. This course is the first part of a two-part series. Part Two goes on to discuss how to reduce polypharmacy using evidence-based tools. This course is applicable to all health care professionals who interact with patients in home health and/or hospice settings.

Meet your instructor

Erica Wilson

Dr. Erica Wilson has been in the pharmacy field for more than 10 years and has worked with patients of all ages and backgrounds, helping them to understand their medications and medical conditions while optimizing therapeutic outcomes and detecting any medication-related problems. She focuses on collaborating with the patient…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Background Knowledge

1. Background Knowledge

In this chapter, a case is introduced that is revisited throughout the entirety of the course. Key terms are defined, and a discussion on age-related changes in each organ system is provided. We also discuss medication errors and how they relate to polypharmacy and adverse drug events.

Identifying Polypharmacy

2. Identifying Polypharmacy

In this chapter, we will discuss how to screen for polypharmacy when evaluating a patient. A thorough list of predictors of polypharmacy is provided.

Consequences of Polypharmacy

3. Consequences of Polypharmacy

In this chapter, each consequence of polypharmacy is discussed in depth, and their relation to one another is considered.