Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: GRECC (Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Centers) Connect is a multi-site project aiming to improve access to geriatric care for veterans in rural areas. Older veterans living in this setting have limited access to care. This program links geriatric specialists to veterans through telehealth to provide specialty care for geriatric syndromes.
Suboptimal prescribing is a driver of poor quality care and associated with increased hospitalizations. This project uses a medication management model to promote prescribing quality and safety for elderly populations. The program’s purpose is to evaluate if consultation with a geriatrics team can reduce prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications.
Methods: This is a prospective study at the Atlanta VA Healthcare System focusing on elderly patients located in rural clinics. High risk older veterans are identified in one of two ways. Providers at the rural clinics consult a patient with geriatric syndromes or patients are identified for consultation from an identified list of high risk patients. The pharmacist identifies these high-risk individuals from a generated list of patients at participating rural clinics with polypharmacy. Polypharmacy is defined as patients with ten or more medications on their profile; excluding supplies. Providers at rural clinics will consult the GRECC connect team for a full geriatric review. A clinical pharmacist will provide a full medication review to identify potentially inappropriate medications. Several questionnaires will be given to patients and caregivers to assess any issues with medication administration or adherence. Interventions made by the medical team, medication changes or adjustments, and patient satisfaction from the consult will be tracked to determine if geriatric consults improve prescribing and medication management in elderly veterans.
Results: not applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Paige Wallace
– PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacy Resident, Atlanta VAMC, Brookhaven, GA119 Views