Slide Presentation from the AHRQ 2007 Annual Conference

Quality Indicators for Appropriate Medication Use in Older Adults Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders (ACOVE) (continued)

• Document the indication for a new drug therapy
• Educate patients on the benefits and risks
• Maintain a current medication list
• Document response to therapy
• Periodically review ongoing need for therapy

Notes:

Study establishes the extent and seriousness of the problem
clarifies the potential for prevention
lays the ground work for determining what directions needed in designing interventions
We believe this is a very conservative estimate—tip of the iceberg, because:
used medical record review—limits in quality of nursing home records strictly information entered or reported by providers
high end homes rigid about definition of ADE—had to be strong evidence linking symptoms to drug