Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) continue to be prescribed and used as first-line treatment for the most vulnerable of older adults, despite evidence of poor out- comes from the use of PIMs in older adults.
Medication-related problems are common, costly, and often preventable in older adults and lead to poor outcomes. Avoiding the use of inappropriate and high-risk drugs is an important, simple, and effective strategy in reducing medication-related problems and adverse drug events in older adults.
The Beers Criteria List is intended for use in all ambulatory and institutional settings of care for populations aged 65 and older in the United States. The primary target audience is the practicing clinician. Researchers, pharmacy benefit managers, regulators, and policy-makers also use the criteria widely. The intentions of the criteria include improving the selection of prescription drugs by clinicians and patients, evaluating patterns of drug use within populations, educating clinicians and patients on proper drug usage, and evaluating health-outcome, quality of care, cost, and utilization data.
This list is not meant to supersede clinical judgment or an individual patient’s values and needs. Prescribing and managing disease conditions should be individualized and involve shared decision-making.
The PGx Medical Metabolic Validation Program is a tool to help guide healthcare professionals in determining right drug, right dose for the right person based on individual metabolization. Each test result highlights medications on the Beers List allowing physicians and pharmacists to quickly determine appropriate medications based on individual outcomes.
For more information contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com