Improving Patient Outcomes by Managing Polypharmacy
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Patients may be diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions that require the use of multiple medications to maintain or improve patient outcomes. This is known as polypharmacy. However, there are situations where the therapeutic benefits of multiple medications are outweighed by the harm the medications may cause to the patient. Harm includes adverse events and poor health outcomes. Polypharmacy occurs when patients have co-occurring physical and mental health conditions (e.g., diabetes and schizophrenia) or when a patient is frail and suffers from chronic pain. Three classes of drugs reported to contribute to 60% of emergency room visits for adverse drug reactions include blood thinners, opioids, and medications for patients with diabetes. Strategies to reduce possible harmful effects of polypharmacy include rigorous patient-centered medication reviews and raising patient awareness about the risks of polypharmacy. Monitoring systems can also be used to capture polypharmacy data. Exploratory research and a multidisciplinary healthcare team approach are two methods to reduce the devastating effects of polypharmacy on the quality of life of patients.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe what polypharmacy means in healthcare
- Identify patient settings where polypharmacy can occur
- List common therapeutics associated with polypharmacy
- Describe the safety concerns of polypharmacy and ways to minimize them
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. History of Polypharmacy
III. What is Polypharmacy?
IV. Prevalence and Risks of Polypharmacy
V. Common Settings for Polypharmacy
VI. Comorbidities Commonly Seen in Polypharmacy
VII. Frequent Therapeutic Classes of Medications in Polypharmacy
VIII. Considerations to Reduce Polypharmacy
IX. What is Next in the Management of Polypharmacy
X. Summary
From March 25, 2023 through March 25, 2026, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in the development of this activity: Pamela Sardo, PharmD, B.S., and Susan DePasquale, MSN, PMHNP-BC. Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S., was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".