Polypharmacy and the Elderly | CEU Webinar
Continuing Education Units Webinar
| Title | Polypharmacy and the Elderly |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, March 17, 2021 |
| Time | 1:00 PM Eastern |
| Cost | Free |
| Credit | Includes 1 complimentary CE credit* |
| Webinar | Register |
What is polypharmacy? There are many definitions of polypharmacy. One all-encompassing definition for our purposes is, one patient’s simultaneous use of multiple medications and/or supplements to treat one or more medical conditions. The medication-related problems (MRPs) that may result from polypharmacy significantly increase the risk of poor medical outcomes and the cost of healthcare.
Polypharmacy is a common medication management challenge in the elderly population. Adults older than age 65 often have more chronic and acute medical conditions than younger people, so older adults take more medications to treat these many conditions. This, in turn, creates more opportunity for adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug interactions (DIs) and other MRPs to occur. Elderly patients may have declining renal and liver functions to metabolize medications, may have declining cognition, and may be less able to ambulate in a normal fashion, increasing the risk of falls. As the senior population grows, so will MRPs, giving rise to an increased need for specialists who can help manage polypharmacy.
In this timely and practical webinar for the multidisciplinary care team, Dr. Michael J. Schuh, B.S., Pharm.D., MBA, FAPhA, will provide an overview of polypharmacy, including its risk factors and an examination of the associated poor medical outcomes. Additionally, Dr. Schuh will provide strategies for the care team to mitigate MRPs, ADRs and DIs, and will examine case studies to help put these learnings into practice.
Presented by Michael J. Schuh, B.S., Pharm.D., MBA, FAPhA
Participants in this web seminar will be able to:
- Describe the clinical and healthcare cost impact of polypharmacy.
- Discuss the risks involved with polypharmacy.
- Implement effective strategies to minimize MRPs associated with polypharmacy.
About the Presenter:
Michael J. Schuh, B.S., Pharm.D., MBA, FAPhA, is a clinical pharmacist and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, Family Medicine and Palliative Medicine at Mayo Clinic Florida. He is a member of the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists Board of Directors. Dr. Schuh is also a past Clinical Assistant Professor and Course Coordinator at the University of Florida in the UF MTM Master of Science program and still holds clinical appointments at UF and other leading universities. On a national level, he is an APhA Fellow, past Chair of APhA’s Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management Administrative Section, an APhA Executive Committee member where he served as Communications Committee Chair, and the APhA Congressional Key Contact. He is also co-founder and past coordinator of the APhA Medication Management Special Interest Group where he served as Chair of both the Education and Business/Practice Model Committees and as a National Quality Forum Advisory Council member assisting in the development of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services healthcare policy.
* This webinar is designed for professionals and family caregivers. Eligible professionals can claim ONE FREE CE credit within 60 days of the live webinar by attending the live event or watching the recorded program. Your credit will be emailed within 30 days of survey submission.
