Panel studies medication problems of elderly

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Pharmaceutical Representative

PHILADELPHIA - The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists will form an independent, interdisciplinary panel with the Alliance for Aging Research to examine medication-related problems in nursing facilities, the association announced at its annual meeting in November.

PHILADELPHIA - The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists will form an independent, interdisciplinary panel with the Alliance for Aging Research to examine medication-related problems in nursing facilities, the association announced at its annual meeting in November.

The panel will prepare a report recommending public policy actions for Congress. The ASCP hopes that policy-makers will strengthen the role of consultant pharmacists as medication experts for the elderly, according to R. Tim Webster, executive director of the ASCP.

According to a study supported by the ASCP's Research and Education Foundation, published in the Oct. 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, the United States saves $3.6 billion annually on medication-related problems, and improves patient outcomes by 43% through pharmacist-conducted drug-regimen reviews in nursing facilities. The study estimated that preventable medication-related problems in nursing homes could cost as much as $7.6 million per year without the intervention of consultant pharmacists. PR

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