Are your clients protected from medication-related harm?

The importance of correct medication management remains a focus for the Royal Commission into the Aged Care sector. So why should we worry? Don’t medications fix conditions not create issues?

Here are some sobering statistics to consider:

Eighty-eight per cent of people taking five or more medications will be experiencing side effects and they may not even realise.

Some 230,000 people each year are admitted to hospital, and many more people experience reduced quality of life, as a result of adverse drug reactions (side effects) from medicines

Sixty-six per cent of Australians over the age of 75 are taking five or more medications.

Twenty-four per cent of medication-related problems can be attributed to the way medicines are stored, managed and used in the home.

What is medicated-related harm?

It is where someone experiences a harmful effect from their medication. It may be non-predictable, eg, an allergic reaction; predictable, eg, a side effect; or preventable, eg, a medication error. Another name for this is an adverse drug event.

The more medicines a person takes, the greater chance of experiencing some sort of side effect from one or more of them. The tipping point appears to be five or more medications so the most dangerous drug you can take is the sixth one!

Why is eliminating medication-related harm important?

In addition to the impact on quality of life, an individual may also require a clinical intervention such as a visit to a doctor or the hospital. It is estimated that medication-related harm contributes to about 30 per cent of hospitalisations in older Australians. Up to 15% of older people visiting their doctor report experiencing some sort of medication-related harm, and up to a quarter of these are deemed preventable.

How can we eliminate medication-related harm?

Be informed. Ensure your clients ask questions of their doctor and pharmacist as to why they are being prescribed that medication, and what to expect, both as a benefit and potential risk (or side effect).

It is also important to adhere to the medication regime outlined by the doctor or pharmacist — taking medication at the right time or storing it in the right environment can be critical to the success of its effectiveness.

Proactive medication care is essential to eliminating medication harm.

Ward MM Thrive

Provided by Australia’s leading medication review company, Ward Medication Management. Ward MM Thrive is a premium clinical pharmacy service that provides individuals with ongoing personalised medication plans.

Ward MM Thrive reassures residents and their families that their medications will not cause harm through DNA analysis that scientifically helps to assist in the choice of the correct medication and dosage for individuals, in- depth collaboration with residents GP and health care team, a medication plan that is updated every six weeks and around-the-clock access to a team of clinical pharmacists specialising in geriatric medicine.

Ward MM is available for a monthly fee, which can be funded through a government-funded Home Care Package—making this essential service effortless and affordable.

About the author

Dr Natalie Soulsby is a clinical pharmacist, specialist in geriatric medicine and Head of Clinical Development at Ward Medication Management. She won the AACP 2017 Consultant Pharmacist of the Year and the 2016 South Australian Pharmacist of the Year awards.