Consultant Pharmacists & the SAFE Medication Review
STEADI-RX’s SAFE Medication Review proposes a framework for pharmacists to mitigate medication-induced fall risk through methodical reviews that focus on screening residents, assessing individual conditions, formulating medication action plans, and educating residents and caregivers.
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Consultant pharmacists are trained to screen residents receiving medications and keenly monitor for lapses in safety or efficacy, especially instances of excessive, unnecessary, or suboptimal medication use, where risks may outweigh benefits or more appropriate therapeutic options exist. Through standard medication regimen reviews (MRRs), consultant pharmacists are well positioned to perform the medication screening function and can focus reviews for medications that may increase fall risk.
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Today’s healthcare landscape prioritizes patient-focused care models, encouraging consultant pharmacists to perform resident-specific assessments to best manage an individual’s health conditions. This includes identifying barriers to care and assessing current medication regimens against treatment goals and potential side effects – including fall risk potential.
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Consultant pharmacists then formulate medication action plans, providing clear recommendations to residents’ prescribers to stop medications when possible, switch to safer alternatives as appropriate, and reduce medications to the lowest effective doses. Recommendations often focus on deescalating therapy, when appropriate, to minimize adverse event potential (such as falls).
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The fall-risk reduction process is not considered finished until the patient and caregiver are appropriately educated about the medication changes and relevant fall prevention strategies. The consultant pharmacist is available and often used as a reference, providing resources and education to equip nursing staff with the tools and information to lead these resident discussions.