Preventing ADEs
While ADEs are uncommon, they can result in severe and even life-threatening health consequences. To protect your residents from unnecessary harm, here are six preventative measures to take.
1. Be vigilant
Whenever a new medication is added to a resident’s regimen, watch for any new symptoms as they could indicate an ADE. This is true of any new drug but is especially important if the drug is associated with a high risk of ADEs. Work with your consultant pharmacist to identify any unnecessary medications that can be removed from the regimen.
2. Encourage residents and staff to speak up
Residents and their caregivers should feel comfortable speaking up if they see conditions that may put a resident at risk for an ADE. Residents should be taken seriously if they report experiencing new or unusual symptoms. As stated above, any new medications should be considered as a potential cause.
3. Educate residents and their families
Make sure residents and/or their family members understand the medication regimen and any expected side effects. Explain the importance of speaking up if the resident experiences unexpected symptoms.
4. Take steps to prevent medication errors
Minimize distractions and ensure staff have adequate time to conduct med pass. Follow the 5Rs (right patient, drug, time, dose, and route) and adhere to all medication reconciliation procedures. Compliance packaging, if available from your pharmacy, reduces the risk of errors, saves time, and makes reconciliation easier.
5. Take advantage of technology
Electronic order entry, electronic medical records, barcode technology, and other tools won’t replace staff knowledge and expertise, but they can help identify issues and prevent errors. Familiarize yourself with the benefits to resident safety and which technologies make the most sense for your organization to adopt.
6. Consult with your pharmacist
Pharmacists are a critical ally in ADE prevention. By conducting medication regimen reviews, pharmacists can spot risks and may be able to work with prescribers to simplify complex regimens.