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Why Do You Need A Comprehensive Geriatric Medication Review?

Elderly patients are very commonly effected negatively by medications. The initial goal of treatment always starts with good intentions, but for several reasons, it spirals in the wrong direction. Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple medications simultaneously, leads to significant health risks and complications.

A comprehensive medication review by a geriatric specialist is essential to mitigate these risks. Key reasons include:


💊Polypharmacy💊

Many older adults take five or more medications, increasing the risk of adverse effects. The more medications, the higher the risk. It's not uncommon to see older patients taking 15+ medications.


💊Medication Side Effects💊

Approximately 40% of older adults experience adverse drug events. Older people are particularly vulnerable due to age-related physiological changes.


💊Drug-Drug Interactions💊

Nearly 30% of hospitalizations in older adults are attributed to adverse drug effects, highlighting the importance of careful medication management.


💊 Emergency Room Visits💊

There are roughly 700,000 ER visits annually due to polypharmacy, or medication related complications.


💊 Healthcare Costs💊

Adverse drug effects and unnecessary hospitalizations contribute to an estimated annual cost of over $177 BILLION in healthcare expenses for older adults.


💊 Primary Care Providers💊

They are not given the time to do a comprehensive medication review during a 10-15 minute office visit. Our Healthcare model is not set up for this time consuming process. Also, some Primary Care Providers do not have the knowledge, or experience with these complex medication profiles. They see patients 18 years old and over, so the geriatic specialization is not their focus.


Additionally, many elderly patients are on fixed incomes, making medication costs a significant concern. Comprehensive medication reviews can identify unnecessary medications, potentially reducing costs and improving adherence to essential treatments. By optimizing medication regimens, geriatric specialists enhance the quality of life for older adults, reduce the risk of adverse side effects, and lower healthcare costs associated with polypharmacy.


A Comprehensive Geriatric Medication Review is crucial for promoting safer and more effective care in the elderly population.

 
 
 

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Disclaimer: This service is offered for medication review of the geriatric patient and recommendations are being made to be shared with your primary care provider. I am not recommending that you stop any medications or change any of your medications without the approval and review of your primary care provider. For this service, I have chosen to not accept insurance. Any and all communication through this service for clients, may contain protected health information (PHI). Any unauthorized use or disclosure of this information is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete the information you were sent. I am the only person providing this service, and will not share any of your identifying data with anyone.

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