SEATTLE: The management objective of all long term care residences is to reduce or obviate the use of prescribed medicines. Here are five techniques to assist this outcome.
3. Adhere to accepted standards of practice relating to prescribing habits by physicians: Communities that adhere to appropriate policies and procedures relating to length of therapy and chronic disease management will generally have less medication usage. For example, clarify the minimum length of treatment for antibiotic therapies in appropriate instances and “challenge” the routine use of antihistamine therapy. The goal is to have the patient take the least amount of medication necessary, while adequately treating the condition.