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Geriatric Polypharmacy

30

Course Overview
Polypharmacy in geriatrics is a serious problem that is expected to grow in scope as the population ages. Certain medications commonly used in the younger population may be considered inappropriate in older adults, due to pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and/or drug/disease interactions. Reduction in the number of medications that older patients take is associated with reduction in mortality rates, improved quality of life, and reduced costs. This program will educate clinicians on how to evaluate and reduce unnecessary polypharmacy.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

  • Define polypharmacy in the older adult patient. 
  • Identify guidelines to prevent the use of unnecessary medications in older adult patients. 
  • Describe physiologic changes of aging that cause differences in drug metabolism. 
  • Discuss the potential problems polypharmacy may cause in older patients. 
  • Evaluate the impact of polypharmacy in specific conditions as well as approaches to avoid inappropriate prescribing. 
  • Describe a prescribing cascade and the importance of medication assessment and reconciliation. 

Pharmacy Technician Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

  • Outline the impact of polypharmacy and ways it can be avoided in the older adult patient. 
  • Identify the potential problems polypharmacy may cause in older patients, with special considerations for subpopulations. 
  • Discuss the importance of medication assessment and reconciliation. 
     

About the Author/Presenter 
Susan Waterbury, MSN, FNP-BC, ACHPN, entered the medical field in 1985 as a certified medical assistant and basic x-ray operator. She achieved her RN in 1990 and practiced in a variety of settings, including hospital, home health care, and hospice. Ms. Waterbury achieved her BSN in 1996 and her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1999. She was board-certified as an FNP-BC in 2000 and has practiced in family practice, geriatrics, corporate leadership, hospice, and palliative care settings. She holds RN and NP licenses in Florida and Arizona.

In addition to her clinical roles, Ms. Waterbury continues to play an active role in educating and mentoring nurses and healthcare professionals. She has been a faculty member of the University of Phoenix since 2015, teaching in the nurse practitioner and MSN programs. She develops and presents educational programs for a variety of healthcare organizations and community groups.


Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing, Pharmacy

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