Reducing Off-Label Use of Antipsychotics in Nursing Homes
Numerous studies have demonstrated serious health risks associated with off-label use of anti-psychotics in older adults with dementia. Learn about our OASIS pilot project to promote non-pharmacological, resident-centered approaches staff can use for residents with dementia related behaviors.
-Program Summary
-Pilot Sites
Director of Clinical Quality Laurie Herndon and Dr. Susan Wehry,
Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living in Vermont, provide leadership and direction for this important pilot program.
This Massachusetts program to reduce off label use was featured in Provider Magazine, published by the American Health Care Association. Click here to see a copy of the article.
Medication Safety
Did you know that nearly 60% of nursing facility residents received nine or more different medications during a seven-day assessment period? Frail elders with complex health problems may need multiple medications to optimize their medical and functional status. However, as the number of medications increases, so do the risks of errors and potentially harmful drug interactions.
To minimize those risks, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation has joined with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors and Masspro in a collaboration to reduce medication errors in nursing facilities.
This collaboration has led to the development of a 200-page Safe Medication Practices Workbook which provides the essential tools needed by senior care professionals to improve medication management systems and reduce the incidence of medication errors and resident harm. Funding and support for this work comes from the Department of Public Health’s Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction.