Events that lead seniors to opt for Medication Therapy Management Services
Caregivers often cudgel their brains, trying to figure out whether the medications
, being administered to their senior patients, are having any sustainable, positive impact on them. This question often goes unasked and at times, even tactfully evaded, which further aggravates the problems created by improper medications and results in many seniors progressing to higher levels of care. Studies, conducted worldwide, confirm that there is a distinct correlation between old age and adverse drug reactions.
The elderly population in the US is growing steadily as the baby boomer's generation continues to age, but many of them have miserably failed to address their health needs, due to ignorance and lack of access to a better health care. Most senior Americans suffer from chronic conditions-Alzheimer's Disease, Depression, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, High Blood Pressure, Heart Problems, Cancer, Prostrate Enlargement- that compel them to take multiple medications, the combination of some of which may prove to be lethal to their health. The need for proper medication management for the elderly population is, therefore, evident, essentially calling for Medication Therapy Management Services that are usually standalone but, can occur in harmony with the provision of a medication product.
The passage of the Medicare Part D benefit will undoubtedly improve patients' accessibility to prescription drugs and for the first time, seniors, without coverage, will be able to opt for prescription drugs. But speculations are rife about the rise in pharmaceutical use and the potential risks it poses to consumers. With new drugs being added to their complex and sensitive treatment regimens, older patients find it phenomenally difficult to take medications on time without additional help and guidance.Older adults, without friends and family, are subject to benign neglect and loneliness and hence, often fail to comply with the rigorous medication regimens. Since senior citizens are no longer in the workforce, many of them live under or slightly above the federal poverty line, which, according to studies, compels them to skip doses or cut pills in half.
At times, due to lack of effective communication with the prescribers or cognitive decline or various other disabilities, seniors do not take the correct dose of medicine, which may lead to Adverse Drug Reactions, including interactions and subsequent, hospitalizations, morbidity and even, death.Ageingbodies take a lot of time to effectively and efficiently process medications and this means a wrong dosage can even pave the way for an untimely death. Studies have revealed that older adults are more susceptible to fatal medication errors, engendered by inappropriate dose of medicines. Their woes are further worsened by commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals such as warfarin that carry high risk.
The new, tougher Medicare rules have made Medication Therapy Management services abundantly and easily available to members in a bid to help them cope with diseases and keep track on their health. This rule applies to even privately-owned insurance businesses that offer drug coverage to members who incur an annual cost of $3000 for their medications. MTM services, carried out in consultation with a licensed and qualified pharmacist or health care provider, encompass a distinct set of professional activities or responsibilities that help patients optimize therapeutic outcomes. This customized service, absolutely free of cost, doles out verbal education and training to patients, imparting knowledge about the appropriate use of medications. An MTM program, through comprehensive medication reviews and face-to-face interactions, essentially gauges a patient's response to his therapies, thereby, recognizing, resolving and preventing adverse drug reactions.
The elderly population suffers untold misery primarily due to non-adherence to their strict drug regimes. An MTM program reinforces a degree of balance and discipline in the lives of older adults, enabling them to religiously stick to their medicines and take them on time. The program also consistently keeps a track of the side-effects of particular medications and in the wake of any adverse drug event, recommends changes such as cutting the dosage of a drug or replacing it with another.
The goal of a Medication Therapy Management program is to keep seniors healthy by helping them take the correct prescription drugs, whether they are branded ones or their cheaper generic alternatives, in the right proportion and thus, warding off medication-related problems, which are predominantly responsible for hospital readmissions. Seniors must be cognizant of what medications they are consuming because staying healthier also indicates filing lesser medical claims.Sound pharmaceutical care can drastically cut hospitalizations; therefore, medication monitoring, by a professional pharmacist, is crucial, as it helps patients successfully manage multiple medications and keep adverse drug events at bay.
Events that lead seniors to opt for Medication Therapy Management Services
By: Sun Knowledge
Stress Away Spray - Stress Management Review Anger Management Courses Holds The Secrets To Calm 6 Step Guide To Money Management Different Types Of Therapies Pain Management Doctors May Suggest How Property Investors Will Benefit From A Property Management Company Typical Types Of Pain, Florida Pain Management Doctors See In Older Residents A Breakdown Of The Specific Fields Associated With Pain Management Anger Management Techniques Guaranteed To Work The Benefits Of Pain Management Work For Students: Improving One Time-management Skills Basement Waterproofing Contractor's Effective Time Management a Must During Steady Storm Period Cable Management Systems Special Aspects Of Itsm Service Management
Events that lead seniors to opt for Medication Therapy Management Services Anaheim