influenza (flu) virus is a relatively common but potentially life-threatening respiratory illness that affects millions of people every year in the United States and around the world. The effects of the flu are particularly profound among the senior population, making it important for long-term care providers, including LTC pharmacy services, Read more…
Adults age 65 and older, including those in the PACE population, are susceptible to serious complications from the influenza, or flu, virus. In the United States, flu complications among seniors cost a staggering $56 billion annually, mainly driven by costs related to hospital admissions and death. This large clinical and Read more…
Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services introduced multiple new regulations that affect long-term care pharmacy. The Final Rule for long-term care facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs was published by CMS on Oct. 4, 2016. The three phases of these regulations have implementation dates of Read more…
post-acute care pharmacy providers. In fact, the American Diabetes Association reports that 11.2 million Americans age 65 and older—or approximately 26 percent of that population—have been diagnosed with diabetes. Many more have prediabetes, meaning they’re at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. These numbers are important because those with diabetes Read more…
Inhalers are used frequently in the elderly population, including PACE participants, to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. Each inhaler works a little differently, and proper administration technique is important to ensure participants receive the appropriate amount of medication to make a difference in their disease state and improve Read more…
There are many challenges facing the elderly when it comes to medication. Because seniors typically take a large number of medications to manage multiple medical conditions, they’re at an increased of polypharmacy and adverse drug events. For PACE participants, the challenges are even more pronounced, as they try to navigate Read more…
The field of medicine is continually changing, and with it, so is long-term care pharmacy. As researchers uncover more about how the body works and metabolizes medications, the potential to personalize those medications—and optimize results—grows. The topic of pharmacogenetics is increasing in popularity as we progress toward personalized medicine. We Read more…
Heart failure is a condition that’s more common among the elderly population. It is vitally important for long-term care providers, including LTC pharmacy services, to stay up-to-date on condition and management strategies. The Long-term Care Providers’ Guide to Heart Failure: Defining the Conditionm Heart failure is a syndrome that presents Read more…
By definition, a medication error is a preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Medication errors may occur at any point in time from prescribing to the PACE pharmacy dispensing the medication to administration. The Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) estimates that Read more…
Medication nonadherence is a common issue in the United States, contributing to as much as $300 billion in avoidable health-related costs each year. Because seniors often take multiple medications, they are at high risk for nonadherence and hospital readmissions, making this an area of emphasis for both PACE pharmacy and Read more…