Drugs and the elderly, Part 2: Strategies for improving prescribing in a managed care environment

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Pharmacology
• Managed Care Pharmacy

Background:

• The elderly population presents unique challenges for medication management.
• Effective prescribing for older adults is crucial in managed care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore literature on improving medication prescribing for the elderly.
• To identify approaches applicable to managed care environments.

Main Methods:

• A nonquantitative review of the medical literature was conducted.
• Literature was organized by topics relevant to managed care professionals.

Main Results:

• Few studies directly address the managed care community regarding elderly medication use.
• There is a significant gap in literature on integrating geriatric pharmacology into managed care.

Conclusions:

• A scarcity of literature exists for managed care professionals on geriatric pharmacology, pharmacoepidemiology, and drug utilization review.
• Further research is needed to support evidence-based medication practices for older adults in managed care.