Abstract

The issue of polypharmacy in the geriatric population requires continual monitoring to reduce adverse patient outcomes, such as falls, drug interactions, and mortality. Over the years, several resources have been used to help to mitigate potential polypharmacy by healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, many healthcare providers don't know how to use these lists, or patients' health conditions predicate prescribing potentially inappropriate medications. Employing telehealth technologies that are mainly designed to assess geriatric syndromes of older adults can improve veterans' access to care and coordination and enhance the quality of life. The presented PICOT question is: In geriatric veterans (P), what is the benefit of telehealth as a means for a medication review and education (I) during a geriatric evaluation vs. current NFSG Veteran's Health system medication reconciliation (C) on reduction of polypharmacy (O) over a three-month period (T)? Based on the appraised available research, evidence supports the use of a comprehensive geriatric evaluation with the help of telemedicine while reducing polypharmacy.

Author Details

Adolphus Bailey Jr., DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, MBA and Gina Kelly-Vasquez, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Sigma Membership

Theta Tau

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Polypharmacy Awareness and Tools, Telehealth, Geriatric Patients, Patient Satisfaction, Veterans, Telemedicine

Advisor

Michele Bednarzyk

Second Advisor

Cynthia L. Cummings

Third Advisor

Janette Dunlap

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

University of North Florida

Degree Year

2021

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2023-04-04

Full Text of Presentation

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