{"title":"The Many Benefits of Sharing Data in Professional Practice.","authors":"Chris Alderman","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.344","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.344","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 10","pages":"344-345"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142366870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Case Series: Medications for Diabetes-A Focus on Secondary Stroke Prevention.","authors":"Sabrina Warren, Shayla McKee, Erin Yakiwchuk","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.350","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.350","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This report addresses evidence for efficacy of diabetes medications with a focus on stroke risk reduction. The cardiovascular benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists have been well-established; however, clinical trials to date have examined composite cardiovascular endpoints that include, but do not specifically focus on, stroke. The purpose of this case review is to examine the evidence for the various diabetes medications in reducing the risk for stroke. This literature review was inspired by a patient seen in a geriatric day hospital program with diabetes and a history of multiple strokes. Our goal was to select a diabetes management regimen that would provide both glycemic control and stroke risk reduction. As diabetes and cerebrovascular disease commonly coexist and are important contributors to morbidity and mortality in older individuals, appropriate management must incorporate both current evidence as well as consideration for patient-specific factors that may influence the treatment plan. This patient case illustrates the importance of both.</p>","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 10","pages":"350-359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142366867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexandra Schifano, Alexandra Statczar, Anne Metzger, Jaron Stout, Jeffrey A Clark, Casondra Seibert
{"title":"Assessing the Impact of Consultant Pharmacist-Directed Anticoagulation Management in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Setting.","authors":"Alexandra Schifano, Alexandra Statczar, Anne Metzger, Jaron Stout, Jeffrey A Clark, Casondra Seibert","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.382","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.382","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> The objective is to evaluate the impact of consultant pharmacist-directed anticoagulation management in the post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) setting. <b>Design:</b> Retrospective study. <b>Participants:</b> Patients whose clinical details were included in the ASCP aggregate data and were older than 65 years of age, admitted to PALTC facility, and had active anticoagulant therapy were included in the study. <b>Interventions:</b> Pharmacists enrolled in the ASCP (Quality Improvement Project) and performed monthly chart reviews per standard practice. The 30-day post-chart review follow-up data were entered into the ASCP data collection. The research team assessed for consultant pharmacist interventions associated with anticoagulant therapy management. <b>Results:</b> Data were collected from November 2022 through March 2023, during which 807 charts were assessed. Within the charts reviewed, 274 patients received anticoagulation therapy, of which 173 (63%) were identified as having a medication-related problem concerning anticoagulant use. Two hundred sixteen pharmacist recommendations were sent to providers to address the inappropriate anticoagulant therapy. Providers completed modifications to 190 (88%) of the recommendations. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study emphasized pharmacist involvement in managing anticoagulant therapy within the PALTC setting and identified the need for further investigation of patient specific outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 10","pages":"382-392"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142366864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heart Failure in Older People Part 2: Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy.","authors":"Elizabeth Pogge, Stephanie Sibicky","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.360","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.360","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heart failure is a common cardiovascular disease that affects older people and has a high rate of mortality. Treatment for heart failure has evolved in the past 10 years to include novel evidence-based agents as well as changes in how medications are initiated and up-titrated. Despite evidence of the importance of using four guideline-directed medications, older people are often undertreated with these lifesaving therapies. Senior care pharmacists play an important role in heart failure management among older people by providing therapeutic recommendations; monitoring therapeutic interventions; and educating patients, caregivers, and/ or providers.</p>","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 10","pages":"360-372"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142366868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"It Takes a Village….","authors":"Gauri Godbole","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.283","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.283","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 8","pages":"283-285"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Does the Pharmacy Profession View the Full Picture of Cognitive Disorders?","authors":"Chris Alderman","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.281","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.281","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 8","pages":"281-282"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of a Delirium Protocol on Deliriogenic Medication Use in Hospitalized Older Veterans.","authors":"Alison M Weygint, Brandon LaMarr, Stephanie Lee","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.291","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b> The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) implemented a delirium prevention and treatment protocol in 2019. <b>Objective</b> The primary objective of this study was to determine if the implementation of a delirium protocol influenced deliriogenic medication use in hospitalized geriatric veterans. The secondary objectives were to compare the rates of delirium diagnosis, hospital length-of-stay, and rates of newly started deliriogenic medications during admission pre- and post-protocol. <b>Methods</b> This study was a retrospective, secondary data analysis study. Veterans 65 years of age and older who were admitted to an inpatient medical ward at the SAVAHCS for 24 hours or more between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 (pre-protocol) or January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 (post-protocol) were included. Patients were excluded if they had a diagnosis of alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal upon admission. <b>Results</b> A total of 5491 patients were included in this study; 2940 (53.5%) in the pre-protocol group and 2551 (46.5%) in the post-protocol group. Patients received at least one deliriogenic medication during their admission in the post-protocol group (36.2%) compared with the pre-protocol group (34.1%), but there was no statistically significant difference (<i>P</i> = 0.098). There were also no significant differences in the rates of documentation of delirium as a diagnosis at discharge, hospital length-of-stay, or the rates of newly started deliriogenic medications during admission between the groups. <b>Conclusion</b> Implementation of a delirium prevention and treatment protocol at the SAVAHCS did not significantly impact the use of deliriogenic medications in hospitalized geriatric veterans.</p>","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 8","pages":"291-299"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The 2023 American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria<sup>®</sup> Application in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Walk-through.","authors":"Jehath Syed, Sri Harsha Chalasani","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.286","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The 2023 update of the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria<sup>®</sup> provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for optimizing medication use in older people. While this update is based on a rigorous review of evidence from clinical trials and research studies published between 2017 and 2022, its application in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may present unique challenges and considerations. LMICs often face different health care realities compared with high-income countries, such as limited access to medications, varying prescribing practices, and resource constraints. As a result, the Beers Criteria<sup>®</sup> 2023 update, which includes the addition, deletion, and revision of medicines based on new evidence, may not be entirely applicable or feasible in these settings. This commentary aims to explore the implications of the 2023 Beers Criteria<sup>®</sup> update for LMICs, highlighting the need for context-specific adaptations and strategies to optimize medication use and improve health outcomes for older people in resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 8","pages":"286-290"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Review of Current Clinical Options for the Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.","authors":"Katelyn Malena, Shantanu Rao, Charles Mosler","doi":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.300","DOIUrl":"10.4140/TCP.n.2024.300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dementia is a disease most prevalent in the older adult population. The cognitive symptoms of dementia include impairments in problem-solving, memory, and language. Some patients experience noncognitive symptoms in addition to the cognitive symptoms of dementia. These noncognitive symptoms are called behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia or BPSD. The primary objective of our study was to examine the therapeutic options, guidelines, and clinical considerations for the management of BPSD. The existing literature about BPSD was reviewed with searches in PubMed, MEDLINE, and online search platforms. Dysregulation of neurotransmission involving acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin has been shown to cause behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. BPSD can include hallucinations, agitation, delusions, anxiety, apathy, abnormal body movements, irritability, depression, disinhibition, and sleep or appetite changes. Pharmacologic therapies used in the treatment of BPSD include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and anticonvulsants. Treatment can be tailored to the specific noncognitive symptoms that are experienced. The use of these agents may be limited based on recommendations from the Beers Criteria®, STOPP criteria, treatment guidelines, and FDA warnings.</p>","PeriodicalId":41635,"journal":{"name":"Senior Care Pharmacist","volume":"39 8","pages":"300-310"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}