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Reducing Medication Administration Frequency in Veteran Community Living Centers
Jesus Melendez1, Rita Bodine2, Karen Park2
1Pharmacy Service, Veterans Affairs Hudson Valley Health Care System (VA HVHCS), Montrose, NY, USA.
Pharmacists reduced daily medication passes and Veteran interruptions by implementing medication consolidation in a community living center. This quality improvement initiative decreased nurse workload and improved patient experience.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) initiative to decrease daily medication administration frequency for Veterans.
- Community Living Center (CLC) medication practices mimic acute care, leading to frequent interruptions.
- Project objective: reduce medication administration to minimize interruptions for Veterans and nurses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led medication consolidation on reducing medication administration frequency.
- To assess the effect on Veteran interruptions and nurse workload in a CLC setting.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of Veterans in a pilot CLC (January-March 2018).
- Assessment of electronic medical records and barcode medication administration (BCMA) logs.
- Analysis of pharmacist recommendations and their implementation, measuring Veteran interruptions and medication passes.
Main Results:
- Thirty-one Veterans reviewed; 55 pharmacist recommendations made, 31 implemented.
- Average daily Veteran interruptions reduced by 13.9%.
- Average daily medication passes by nurses reduced by 16.3%.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacist recommendations for medication consolidation effectively decreased Veteran interruptions and nurse workload.
- Pharmacists will continue monthly medication consolidation and expand the initiative to other CLC units.
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