Too many pills, too many sick older Australians: Working together is key

Jodie B Hillen; Natalie Soulsby; Malcolm Clarke

doi:10.31128/AJGP-07-20-5548

Too many pills, too many sick older Australians: Working together is key

Aust J Gen Pract. 2021 Mar;50(3):171-174. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-07-20-5548.

Authors

Jodie B Hillen¹, Natalie Soulsby², Malcolm Clarke³

Affiliations

¹ PhD, MClinEpi, BPharm, Head of Research and Program Evaluation, Ward Medication Management, Vic; Research Fellow, Epidemiology, UniSA Clinical @ Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA.
² PhD, MSc Clin Pharm, BSc@(Hons) Pharm, AACPA, FSHP, Adv Pract Pharm, Head of Clinical Development, Ward Medication Management, Vic.
³ MBBS, FRACGP, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Vic; Inaugural Member Academy of Clinical Teachers, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Vic; Member, VicREN Committee, Diabetes @ Cardiometabolic Research Group, Vic; Data Governance Board, NPS MedicineInsight, NSW; Advisory Committee, PC4, Vic; General Practice Antimicrobial Stewardship Advisory Committee, Vic; Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) Clinical Council, Vic; Medical Director, IPN Medical Centres, Vic.

PMID: 33634288
DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-07-20-5548

Abstract

Background: Australians living in aged care facilities are clinically complex, with multiple comorbidities treated with multiple medicines. Over the past 12 months, there has been unprecedented focus on harm from medications in aged care. This led the Australian Government to fund enhancements to the Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) program.

Objective: The aim of this article is to discuss how the enhanced RMMR program will address barriers and support general practitioners to make medication changes for older Australians.

Discussion: These enhancements are intended to provide a complete cycle of care over nine months, with ongoing collaboration within the healthcare team including residents. This will allow a team approach to medication changes and monitoring resident response over time. Progress reports will provide a history of outcomes with respect to successful and unsuccessful medication changes. Successful outcomes for residents rely on the healthcare team working together.

MeSH terms

Aged
Australia
General Practitioners*
Humans