A University of South Australia research team has secured nearly $1 million in funding to tackle one of the most persistent problems in aged care: medication safety. The initiative comes as Australia implements major reforms following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The project will introduce “medication safety rounds” in aged care facilities, where pharmacists will lead regular team meetings to identify and address potential medication issues before they cause harm to residents.
“Aged care residents take multiple medications, and this can increase the likelihood of medication errors and adverse events,” said Chief Investigator, Associate Professor Janet Sluggett from UniSA.
Medication management problems currently represent the most frequent complaints to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue.
The new approach adapts the successful model of nurse-led palliative care rounds, creating a multidisciplinary approach to medication management.
“The new medication safety rounds draw on the evidence-based principles of nurse-led ‘palliative care needs rounds’, where patients are regularly monitored by a multidisciplinary team of experts to assess and cater for their changing needs,” Assoc Prof Sluggett explained.
“Our rounds will work in a similar way where pharmacists, nurses and other aged care team members engage in monthly meetings to ensure medications are being used safely and effectively.”
The initiative directly responds to Royal Commission recommendations to implement pharmacist models of care in aged care homes. Six aged care providers have partnered with the research team, which includes experts in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, aged care, consumer engagement and health economics.
Over the next two years, the project will work with health professionals, aged care staff, residents and families to develop and implement the medication safety rounds model.
“This pharmacist-led approach will help to identify and address potential problems with medication use, such as drug interactions, inappropriate prescriptions, and opportunities for deprescribing, with any changes identified actioned to ensure optimal resident care,” said Sluggett.
Australia is among the first countries to implement onsite pharmacists in aged care homes, making this initiative particularly timely.
“With Australia’s aged care system undergoing major reforms, including the introduction of onsite pharmacists, this project leverages a critical window of opportunity to develop a new care model focused on reducing medication-induced harm and improving resident’s health and wellbeing,” Assoc Prof Sluggett concluded.
The project will evaluate both the processes and outcomes of the medication safety rounds and assess the potential for scaling up the initiative across the aged care sector.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
