A strategy to decrease the use of risky drugs in the elderly.
Many medications that are safe in most patients pose serious risks in older patients, including functional decline, delirium, falls, and poorer outcomes. We describe our institution's program of "academic detailing," designed to reduce the use of three high-risk drugs in elderly patients.
Department of Pharmacy, Summa Health System, Akron, OH 44304, USA. fosnighs@summa-health.org
Susan M
SM
Fosnight
Carolyn M
CM
Holder
Kyle R
KR
Allen
Susan
S
Hazelett
D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; D000075202:Contraindications; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000592:standards*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008614:Meperidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009820:Ohio; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*
D000639:Amitriptyline; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D008614:Meperidine