News
Falls and Medication Management
Medication management can reduce interactions and side effects that may lead to falls. Although many medication classes have been linked to falls, the evidence is strongest for a few drug categories.
Avoid prescribing medications for an older person where the risk from side effects outweighs the benefit
According to the CDC, they feel it is MOST important to:
- reduce or eliminate psychoactive drugs, especially any benzodiazepines.
- Eliminate medications if there is no active indication to use them.
- Reduce doses of necessary medications (e.g.,antihypertensives) to the lowest effective dose.
- Avoid prescribing medications for an older person where the risk from side effects outweighs the benefit (e.g., skeletal muscle relaxants).
With even more changes and reductions in psychotropic medications coming in 2018, now is a good time to be proactive and implement programs that can help you achieve these mandates.
Medication Management, via pharmacogenetic testing is a great way to avoid trial and error prescribing and have scientific-based results at your fingertips when treating your residents.
For more information on this Medication Management Program, via pharmacogenetic testing, contact:
PGx Medical, info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112. .
Pharmacogenetics A Better Treatment Option
No matter what you do as a physician or pharmacist, some patients will respond far better to treatment than others, and some will have adverse side effects.
Clay Bullard, President
PGx Medical
Medications can be very helpful and effective, but in approximately 40% of depression cases, drug therapy is ineffective.
There is pharmacogenetic information available to help align medications with each persons unique genetic profile in these areas: depression, anxiety, pain, cardio, seizure, bipolar and more. But not all pharmacogenetic companies offer you the “whole” picture. Know what you are getting before you test your residents.
PGx Medical travels around the country educating and implementing pharmacogenetics within the field of aging services. “It is a simple process,” said Clay Bullard, President of PGx Medical. “Our program addresses clinical concerns in the long-term care setting such as falls, dementia, sleep, pain, med management and overall staff efficiencies.”
The pharmacogenetic test can be placed in the electronic health record for consulting purposes when ordering future medications.
“This is the way of the future,” said Bullard. “Trial and error medication is difficult on the average person, but can be extremely hard on elderly adults. With pharmacogenetics, you avoid that process and you are able to provide a personalized treatment option.”
For more information on pharmacogenetics and how to educate your staff, or implement the program into your long-term care community, contact, PGx Medical, 405-509-5112 or info@pgxmed.com.
Improving Dementia Care in Nursing Homes
CMS and its partners are committed to finding new ways to implement practices that enhance the quality of life for people with dementia.
CMS established new national goals for reducing the use of antipsychotic medications in long-stay nursing home residents
According to an article in CMS.gov, CMS and its partners are committed to finding new ways to implement practices that enhance the quality of life for people with dementia, protect them from substandard care and promote goal-directed, person-centered care for every nursing home resident.
The National Partnership continues to work with state coalitions and nursing homes to significantly reduce the prevalence of antipsychotic use in long-stay nursing home residents. CMS established national goals for reducing the use of antipsychotic medications in long-stay nursing home residents by 30 percent by the end of 2016. These goals build on the progress made to date and express the Partnership’s commitment to continue this important effort.
CMS plans to monitor the reduction of antipsychotics, as well as the possible consequences, review the cases of residents whose antipsychotics are withdrawn to make sure they don’t suffer an unnecessary decline and add the antipsychotic measure to the calculations that CMS makes for each nursing home’s rating on the agency’s Five Star Quality Rating System.
In 2017 those quality measures are predicted to change. Avoiding potentially inappropriate medications in older adults remains important for quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, according to CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Medications will continue to be at the forefront when it comes to star quality measures.
To help with the reduction of antipsychotics, there is a fully reimbursed medication management tool that can help clinicians determine the right drug, at the right dose, for the right person. That tool is called pharmacogenetics.
Pharmacogenetics gives you scientific-based evidence on how each individual person receives therapy from the medication they are taking today, and a roadmap for medications in the future. For more information on how to implement this tool into your nursing home, or request more education on pharmacogenetics, contact: PGx Medical at info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112.
PGx Medical is the trusted and experienced resource for the implementation of pharmacogenetics in the field of aging services.
source: cms.gov
Fall Activities for Seniors
As we age, it is important to stay active and Fall is the perfect season to get outside and stay in shape.
As we grow older it is important to get up, get out and get active! (photo seniortv.com)
As summer comes to an end, fall is perhaps the most favorite time of year for seniors. As we grow older most seniors like to avoid extreme conditions that summers and winters around the United States offer. Most of us enjoy the cool breeze and comfortable temperatures that come with fall. With that being said, more and more seniors come outside and enjoy the fall weather than they do in the summer. As we grow old it is important for seniors to stay active and find fall activities that are fun and keep you in shape.
Sporting events: Fall means football, one of America’s beloved sports. A lot of seniors just enjoy getting out and staying active, whatever the sport may be. Some seniors go to local high school games, while others attend college or professional games. Whatever sport or team they choose – staying engaged and active is a great way for seniors to live a longer, healthier life!
Hiking: For seniors who are active, hiking is a great way to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. It is very important to know your terrain and weather conditions before journeying out too far. Stay hydrated, wear protective clothing and sunscreen – and know if the medications you are taking have adverse reactions to the sun or extreme heat.
Traveling: One benefit of growing older is more free time to travel. Fall is a great time to make travel plans and the nice thing about being a senior is finding discounts during the off-season while many working adults travel with their children throughout the summer. Another fun way to travel is with a group of other seniors for a day-long excursion, or a lengthy stay. It is a great way to see other parts of the country and meet new friends!
At PGx Medical, our goal is to educate seniors and their families on medication management. One reason some seniors have a difficult time being active is they are on the wrong medication, or multiple medications that interact. Whether they are having an adverse drug event, or just not getting therapy from their current medication, medications play a big factor in keeping seniors on the sideline.
That’s where we can help! PGx Medical offers a simple solution – a once in a lifetime swab of the cheek that can help your doctor determine if the medications you are taking are right for you. For more information, contact PGx Medical at info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112. Check out our website: www.pgxmed.com for more information.
Whatever you like to do – Fall is a great season with mild temperatures to get up, get out and get active!
Source: seniortv.com
New Quality Measures: Antipsychotic Use in Nursing Homes
More than half of nursing facility residents have some form of dementia, many of whom experience behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia (BPSD).
How will you be proactive and jump out ahead of New Quality Measures?
According to an online article from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, over 25% of patients in nursing facilities in the United States receive antipsychotic medications. These drugs have many legitimate uses including treatment for psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, and BPSD in certain situations. However, they are often used inappropriately in nursing facilities to treat BPSD (behavioral and psychotic symptoms of dementia), and evidence documenting their clinical efficacy for BPSD is variable.(1)
In elderly residents who have dementia, antipsychotics are only appropriate in a small number of instances. Yet, despite the Food and Drug Administration’s warnings of increased mortality, the use of antipsychotics as a chemical restraint in nursing home residents who have dementia still persists. Significant morbidity – including higher blood sugar and cholesterol levels, weight gain, increased risk of falls, and decreased cognition – also are associated with the use of antipsychotics. These complications can lead to or cause a worsening of other primary diagnoses known to affect older adults.(2)
CMS plans to monitor the reduction of antipsychotics, as well as the possible consequences, review the cases of residents whose antipsychotics are withdrawn to make sure they don’t suffer an unnecessary decline and add the antipsychotic measure to the calculations that CMS makes for each nursing home’s rating on the agency’s Five Star Quality Rating System.
Coming in 2017 and beyond:
Avoiding potentially inappropriate medications in older adults remains important for quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, according to CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. (3) Medications will continue to be at the forefront when it comes to star quality measures.
So what are you doing to be proactive? Are you implementing programs to help stay ahead of the game? Pharmacogenetic testing is a fully reimbursed diagnostic test that is easy to implement and gives you scientific-based evidence on how each individual person receives therapy from the medication they are taking today, and a roadmap for medications in the future.
At PGx Medical our consultants travel around the country educating and implementing pharmacogenetics into aging services communities. Our team stays up-to-date on CMS guidelines, the best labs and services that offer your community the most detailed information your clinical staff needs to make informed therapeutic decisions.
Beginning October, 1, 2016, PGx Medical is accepting a select number of nursing and assisted living facilities across the country to be part of their PILOT PROGRAM. Our team will educate your team on this no-cost program, and work alongside you to implement results. Pharmacogenetic testing is a great way to reduce unnecessary medications and can be added as part of your admissions process for all new residents with medical necessity.
For more information about the PILOT PROGRAM, or to request information on pharmacogenetic testing, contact us at: info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112.
Source: (1) ascp.com, (2) dads.state.tx.us, (3) cms.gov
PILOT PROGRAM: Pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenetics aligns current and future medications with each persons unique genetic profile.
The PGx Medical proprietary process impacts quality, adds value and addresses clinical concerns such as falls, dementia, sleep, pain, med management and overall staff efficiencies.
PGx Medical is looking for a select number of LTC/Senior communities in various States across the country to partner in a pilot program to help gain insight, feedback and data relevant to medication management and pharmacogenetics in the field of aging services. This pilot is not a study or clinical trial, but rather a pilot partnership with progressive LTC communities that are interested in exploring enhanced quality measures, improved outcomes and overall efficiencies in their communities. This is a fully reimbursed diagnostic pilot program that has no-cost to the community or the residents and provides valuable information for each individual resident that meets CMS criteria for medical necessity.
Presently enrolling provider organizations and communities to participate in this pharmacogenetics operational program. To learn more, contact us at info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112.